Plans to install a high-tech grid of special microphones to alert police the second shots are fired in high-crime Indianapolis neighborhoods have fallen through. The acoustic technology was set to be deployed across two neighborhoods where residents say gunfire is commonplace — the areas of 30th Street and Keystone Avenue and 42nd Street and Post Road.

The Indy Channel 6News reports that the Indianapolis Housing Authority secured a $100,000 grant and the Department of Public Safety had awarded a contract to a vendor in July. In September, however, the vendor – ShotSpotter — backed out of the contract, the grant expired, and the deal fell apart. Acting Public Safety Director Mark Renner said he still wants to test the viability of the gunshot detection system as a crime prevention program.

“Right now, we just don’t have the money,” he told 6News’ Jack Rinehart.

Neighbors said they are disappointed the crime-fighting tool won’t become a reality. “It means a lot to me,” said resident Alicia Rippy. “I would feel safer knowing that we’ve got cameras and speaker phones or whatever to keep our community safe.”

The IHA planned to install cameras alongside the microphone system to take close-up pictures of the area where shots were fired. The cameras will still be installed, followed by the microphones, if funding becomes available. “The camera just snaps around and right over to it, goes whatever direction pinpoints it,” said IHA Director Bud Myers. “It will take a close up, gradually moving in to where the gunshot came from and hopefully, you’ll get a picture of the perpetrator.”

The technology has been deployed in cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston.