CHICAGO — In a few short hours, ShotSpotter’s gunshot detection technology will be decommissioned, with alerts to law enforcement coming to a stop, and the technology officially being dismantled, starting Monday.
“We provide the most unbiased approach to responding to gun violence because we know nothing about the age, race, sex, motivation of the shooter,” said Gary Bunyard, Vice President of Corporate Development at SoundThinking, the company behind ShotSpotter. “All we know was a weapon was discharged at that particular point in time.”
The technology has helped the United States’ second-largest police department for years, alerting officers when gunshots are detected, often in cases where a 911 call isn’t made.
But once the clock strikes midnight, the city and ShotSpotter will part ways.
“We’ve appreciated a very long-term, very productive relationship with the City of Chicago,” said SoundThinking President Ralph Clark. “All we ever wanted was to have a reasoned discussion looking at facts and data to make the real determination as to whether or not this relationship could continue.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson said he’d end the contract once he took office, often stating ShotSpotter was unreliable and costly to the city budget.
“Unfortunately, it seems to be gone political, when you’re making a decision based on a campaign promise, versus a reasoned, fact-based decision now as the CEO effectively of the City of Chicago,” Clark said. “Where you have the responsibility of the care and safety of an entire community – a swath of communities – that are really suffering with respect to gun violence in very, very large ways.”
Many on City Council are opposed to Johnson’s stance. Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward), tweeted, in part, “Experts and community members all know ShotSpotter provides a vital tool for first responders to render aid to victims of gun violence.”
In a Hail Mary move Wednesday last week, City Council voted 33-14 to give Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling power over the city’s contract with SoundThinking.
Johnson called the measure illegal and vowed a veto if the legislation hit his desk.
City Council would need 34 votes to override the mayor, which could happen at the next council meeting, or city alders could convene a special meeting before then, if they’re confident they have the support.
In a statement shortly after the vote, SoundThinking thanked City Council, calling their vote a “powerful message” with regard to the value of the system, but they will, “cease sending the Chicago Police Department ShotSpotter real-time gunshot alerts” tonight.
A 60-day demobilization period will begin Monday, where SoundThinking said they have committed to working with CPD to ensure a smooth transition, including access to historical gun crime data and other analytical tools.