The Silicon Valley company using technology to try and track gun shots just got a big vote of confidence from the law enforcement community: Bill Bratton, former Los Angeles chief of police and former New York city and Boston police commissioners, is coming on board.

Specifically, Bratton, who also recently became a consultant to the city of Oakland, is joining the board of directors of SST, the Newark-based maker of ShotSpotter technology. This company makes technology to figure out the source of gunshots as quickly as possible. Bratton, who created CompStat, a way to use data to identify crime hot spots, seems a natural fit.

Ralph Clark, CEO of SST, released this statement on the company's blog today: "Bill and I share the view that reducing gun violence, and the criminal activity that accompanies gun violence, starts with actionable data which allows law enforcement and communities a more effective and directed response in reducing gun violence and creating safer neighborhoods."

Big Data is everywhere these days, a way to uses technology to track everything from our shopping habits, to how effective hitters are on day games in baseball. Using it to track and fight crime?

It's worth a shot.

Scott can be found on Twitter: @scottbudman