A program meant to deter gun violence is making a comeback in Huntington Station.

Some Suffolk officials say bringing back the ShotSpotter program is one step in a larger strategy to reduce gun violence in high crime communities across the county.

The program has technology that detects the sound of gun shots, records the area and sends the information to police.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says he has secured a $250,000 grant from New York state to help pay for it.

"ShotSpotter will prevent shootings because criminals will know that the police will be there in mere minutes," Tierney says.

Erica Rimmer's son, 21-year-old Cameron Rimmer Hernandez, was killed in 2021 by gun violence. She says she supports the program.

"Those five minutes could have saved my son's life," Rimmer says.

Opponents of the program say it doesn't work and unfairly targets minority communities. The ShotSpotter program was discontinued in 2019 partly due to those reasons.

In addition to Huntington Station, there are plans for the ShotSpotter program to come to North Amityville, Wyandanch, Brentwood, Bay Shore, Central Islip, North Bellport, Coram, Mastic and Shirley.

Tierney says the first state grant is just to get the program up and running, but another $1.5 million to $1.8 million is needed for ShotSpotter to go across Suffolk County.

He is waiting for the Legislature to approve more funding.