In Chicago, the future of the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, now known as SoundThinking, has been a subject of intense negotiations and controversy. The system was at risk of being turned off at midnight tomorrow due to the company's refusal to agree to a temporary 6-month extension through the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Despite Mayor Johnson's announcement of a plan to decommission the technology in September without consulting the company, which insists on a minimum 12-month extension contract, and his proposal for a "non-police response" to emergencies, a last-minute negotiation led to a 7-month extension, allowing more time to wind down the system. This comes amid criticism from criminal justice reformers and concerns about the system's equity, as it disproportionately affects minority communities, and an RFP for acoustic gunshot detection technology being in the works. Meanwhile, the city's handling of social issues, such as the plight of the thousands of Chicago citizens still poor and homeless, has been criticized for becoming an 'afterthought.'
The short-term future of the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system remained in limbo Friday as its operators and the city reportedly tried to work out an extension to keep the police technology running through the weekend and on through the summer. https://t.co/C8tXxwaqfP
"The thousands of Chicago citizens [who] are still poor and homeless, [Tio Hardiman, Executive Director for Violence Interrupters], remarked, have since become an 'afterthought.'" @ChicagosMayor https://t.co/8A99g6p11z
Sources say Shot Spotter will not turn off tonight. Negotiated a 7 month extension - with perhaps room for more time - “to wind down”
Criminal justice reformers keep making things worse in Chicago “Tracking gunshots is not equitable because those gunshots are coming from minority communities, as do a disproportionate number of homicide victims.” NOT EQUITABLE?!? https://t.co/8wsY3v5K40
A statement by ShotSpotter spox appears to confirm what sources told me (and mayoral advised Jason Lee denied having any knowledge of): that there has been an RFP for acoustic gunshot detection technology in the works for some time. https://t.co/pP4qR0XGY9
DELUSIONAL: After Chicago scraped its gunshot detection system, Mayor Johnson says the answer is, "a non-police response to respond to emergency." https://t.co/8U8ae5Myhc
SoundThinking, the company that owns Shot Spotter, says Mayor Johnson announced a decommission plan to take the technology offline in September without consultation. The company sticking firm to a minimum 12 month extension contract. @WGNNews
Several alderpeople have said ShotSpotter (the company now known as SoundThinking) will not agree to temporary 6 month extension through DNC. A source tells me Mayor’s office in last minute negotiations with company before they turn the system off at midnight tomorrow.