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Chicago aldermen, community leaders offer $2.5M to reactivate ShotSpotter

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Published  October 8, 2024 8:50am CDT
Chicago
FOX 32 Chicago

Chicago business leaders offer to temporarily fund ShotSpotter

Some Chicago City Council members and community activists want to revive ShotSpotter. The local business community has offered to fund the gunshot detection technology until the city finds a permanent solution.

The Brief 

    • A group of Chicago aldermen and community leaders offered $2.5 million to reactivate ShotSpotter until the city can implement a permanent solution.
    • Alderman David Moore and other city leaders argue that the technology has been beneficial in improving police response times and aiding in the apprehension of suspects, despite some criticisms about its effectiveness.

CHICAGO - A group of Chicago aldermen and community leaders offered to contribute $2.5 million to help cover some of the cost of ShotSpotter until the city can implement a permanent solution.

Led by 17th Ward Alderman David Moore, the group called on Mayor Brandon Johnson to reactivate the technology, which was deactivated in late September.

ShotSpotter, which uses acoustic sensors to detect gunshots and alert police, has been used in Chicago for several years. While some have questioned its effectiveness, others argue that it has helped police respond to shootings more quickly and catch suspects.

RELATED: Chicago alderman urges Mayor Johnson to reactivate ShotSpotter after death of Sierra Evans

Chicago aldermen call on mayor to reactivate ShotSpotter

Chicago aldermen are coming together to call on Mayor Brandon Johnson to reactivate the ShotSpotter gun detection system. Several city council members worked with local businesses to raise money to bring the technology back to Chicago.

The fatal shooting death of 19-year-old Sierra Evans happened in September after ShotSpotter stopped detecting gunshots in Chicago.

Her body was in a Southeast Side alley until a neighbor discovered her and called authorities, reportedly about 9 hours after the shooting. It’s not known if early detection would have saved her life, but activists said she would have been located sooner.

The city's annual cost for ShotSpotter is $9.6 million. The $2.5 million offered would cover the cost to get the technology back up and running for a little over three months. 

"We don't understand why the administration is willing to have such carnage on their conscience," Moore said.

Alderman Moore was joined by Alderman Stephanie Coleman, Monique Scott, and Peter Chico at City Hall Tuesday morning to call on the mayor to reconsider the city's public safety plan. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina also spoke in favor of ShotSpotter. 

"Until we have something better, let's put something in place that can save lives and that can alert police when they're not being told by anybody else," Pfleger said.

Alderman David Moore said there is enough support in the city council to override a mayoral veto, but they still hope to get the mayor’s support.

ChicagoCrime and Public SafetyNewsChicago City CouncilBrandon Johnson