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Chicago City Council pushes for special meeting as debate over ShotSpotter intensifies

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Published  September 19, 2024 12:21pm CDT
Brandon Johnson
FOX 32 Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson vows to veto ShotSpotter contract despite City Council support

City Council members are rallying to keep ShotSpotter but Mayor Brandon Johnson said he still wants to cancel it.

CHICAGO - The debate over ShotSpotter, Chicago's gunshot detection technology, is set to continue as some City Council members push for a special meeting at City Hall.

The move comes after Mayor Brandon Johnson reiterated his commitment to ending the use of the technology, despite the City Council's recent vote to preserve it.

ShotSpotter, a system designed to alert police to the sound of gunfire, has been both praised and criticized. 

Proponents argue that it enables officers to respond quickly to shootings, even when no 911 call is made. However, critics, including Mayor Johnson, claim that the technology is costly and often inaccurate, sometimes directing police to locations where no crime has occurred.

MORE: Chicago City Council deals major blow to Mayor Johnson on ShotSpotter

Mayor Johnson also pointed out that other cities have discontinued the use of ShotSpotter.

In an effort to override Johnson’s opposition, the City Council passed a new ordinance that circumvents the mayor's authority, granting power to the police superintendent to extend the ShotSpotter contract, which is set to expire on Sunday.

Following hours of heated debate, Johnson declared the ordinance illegal and announced his intention to veto it.

Ald. Raymond Lopez vows to 'keep fighting' for ShotSpotter contract

The City Hall debate over the gun-shot detection system ShotSpotter contines this morning. Mayor Brandon Johnson is promising to veto a majority vote to continue the system.

"His unwillingness to do that is going to set up communities not just for failure but for fatalities. Over the last 14 months, since January 2023 to present, 1,976 lives have been saved by gunshot technology detection when no 911 call was placed," said 15th Ward Alderman Raymond Lopez.

Lopez added that just this week, ShotSpotter alerted police to a mass shooting at 51st and Laflin, where four people were shot and wounded in a health facility.

RELATED: Chicago City Council votes to keep ShotSpotter technology, mayor will veto

The fate of ShotSpotter in Chicago remains uncertain, as both sides brace for another round in the ongoing battle over the future of the technology.

Supporters of the technology have indicated they are ready to defend it in court if necessary.

ShotSpotter has proposed a discounted extension to give the city more time to explore other vendors. 

SoundThinking, the company behind ShotSpotter, released the following statement:

"We are gratified by the support of the many alderpeople and civic leaders across the City who recognize the undeniable fact that ShotSpotter saves lives. We are pleased with City Council’s decision yesterday and view their heart-felt testimony and resulting vote as a powerful message from the citizens of Chicago regarding the role and value of ShotSpotter across the Chicago neighborhoods that we serve today.

The mayor’s announced intention to veto the approved Ordinance leaves SoundThinking with a contract that imposes a September 22, 2024 service termination date. As a result, starting at midnight Sunday night, 9/23, SoundThinking will cease sending the Chicago Police Department ShotSpotter real-time gunshot alerts. Also on 9/23, SoundThinking will begin dismantling ShotSpotter infrastructure in Chicago coverage areas. During the subsequent 60-day Demobilization Period, SoundThinking will continue to work with CPD to ensure a smooth demobilization, including access to historical gun crime data and analytics tools.

With the overwhelming support of the City Council, we remain hopeful that a resolution to extend the lifesaving gunshot detection technology can be found."