ShotSpotter technology goes dark in Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) — ShotSpotter is now offline in Chicago.
The gunshot detection system stopped sending data to police at 12:01 a.m. Monday—all despite a monthslong fight to keep the technology in the city.
Mayor Brandon Johnson is searching for an alternative gunfire detection system, and on Sunday, the city announced that it is now accepting recommendations. The mayor said the goal is to explore better options and save more lives.
The gunshot detection technology alerts police to gunfire faster than a 911 call. Chicago Police said they are no longer getting alerts about the location of possible gunfire at all.
Leading up to this weekend's decommissioning of the service, the mayor's Office of Community Safety launched what it describes as a "diverse working group of city and non-city employees" that has been discussing strategies with other cities, like Seattle, Houston, and San Antonio, which have recently moved away from ShotSpotter.
Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood said as of Monday afternoon, the city had already begun the process of decommissioning ShotSpotter—which SoundThinking, ShotSpotter's parent company, said involved terminating access to the ShotSpotter real-time alerts application.
Over the next 60 days, some Chicago Police system users will continue to have access to historical gunfire data.
Meanwhile, SoundThinking has already begun the process of prioritizing and de-installing ShotSpotter sensors that pick up the sounds of gunshots on public-owned infrastructure throughout the 12 police districts that currently use it.
The company would not say where they are starting to dismantle the system.
Since its 2017 pilot, taxpayers have spent roughly $50 million on the system. Despite its high price tag, it has been criticized for failing to result in a large number of arrests, prosecutions, or even evidence of a crime.
But the most recent data from the first eight months of this year showed that ShotSpotter alerts produced police response times that were on average about three minutes faster than 911 calls alone.
The average police response time with a ShotSpotter alert only was 11.9 minutes, compared with 14.3 minutes with a 911 call only.
Dispatchers could be heard on the radio Saturday night discussing whether the system had already been removed as they responded to an armed robbery in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Armed robbers shot a 19-year-old in his head as he was walking out of a gas station. He was in serious condition Sunday night.
Over the weekend, first responders who have relied on the service for years appeared to be in the dark about what was to happen next.
"Wards that have it and want to keep it should be allowed to do so," said Ald. Ray Lopez (15th).
The fight to keep ShotSpotter has been one that has fired up several aldermen who have lashed out against the mayor, even passing an ordinance last week that gives Chicago Police Department Supt. Larry Snelling the power to renew the contract.
Johnson has vowed to veto that ordinance.
Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) did not mince words in a statement about the situation on Sunday.
"Starting tonight, every gunshot victim left bleeding in the streets of our city will be a worthy sacrifice in the eyes of the mayor for his radical agenda," Tabares said.
Meanwhile, the timeline to get a replacement service up and running is serving up a major red flag for Lopez, who spoke with CBS News Chicago this weekend.
"They would not be able to be in place and approved for at least a year, so even shutting off the technology tomorrow and putting out an RFP, we will still be a year without any kind of service in the City of Chicago," he said. "That is not only irresponsible, but that is dangerous."
Gatewood said a Monday that a "request for information" has been issued to gather recommendations on reliable alternatives to the technology. He called criticism from aldermen and others who say removing the technology will reduce police response times and make our city less safe "fearmongering."
"We don't we don't subscribe to fearmongering," Gatewood said. "What we subscribe to is driving safety and working in partnership."
CBS News Chicago asked Gatewood on Monday why the request for information took so long, since the city has known since February that the ShotSpotter contract would not be renewed.
"Well, we've gone through a process to really think about who should be at the table and how we build that out, and these processes take some time. But throughout this RFI process that will end November 1, we'll be able to get a lot of information in, and we'll be working with our partners to see what is out there; to see what can be successful and help us moving forward," Gatewood said. "The timeline is what the timeline is, and we're excited about what we can do going forward."
CBS News Chicago has learned that on Sunday evening, Snelling sent out a letter to department members, reminding them that they will no longer be relying on ShotSpotter. He also told officers to encourage the community members they interact with to call 911 if they hear loud noises resembling gunshots.
Ald. Silvana Tabares, representing the 23rd Ward, did not mince words in a statement about the situation on Sunday.
"Starting tonight, every gunshot victim left bleeding in the streets of our city will be a worthy sacrifice in the eyes of the mayor for his radical agenda," Tabares said.
Meanwhile, the timeline to get a replacement service up and running is serving up a major red flag for Lopez, who spoke with CBS News Chicago this weekend.
"They would not be able to be in place and approved for at least a year, so even shutting off the technology tomorrow and putting out an RFP, we will still be a year without any kind of service in the City of Chicago," he said. "That is not only irresponsible, but that is dangerous."
CBS News Chicago has learned that on Sunday evening, Snelling sent out a letter to department members, reminding them that they will no longer be relying on ShotSpotter. He also told officers to encourage the community members they interact with to call 911 if they hear loud noises resembling gunshots.
CPD released the following statement:
"Effective Monday, September 23, 2024, at 12:01 am, the Chicago Police Department will no longer be utilizing ShotSpotter technology. This does not change our commitment to public safety and building stronger neighborhoods for all of our residents. Our hardworking officers will continue to respond to crime and work to stop the trauma of violence plaguing our communities.
"CPD frequently adjusts our public safety efforts based on the needs of our residents and the resources available to us. This is no different. As we move forward, we remind residents to call 911 with as much information and detail as possible when they hear loud reports that could resemble gunfire. It's imperative that we all do our part to keep our city safe and protect our families."
ShotSpotter will begin to take down its equipment across the city starting Monday.
