(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago is seeing the possible future of gunshot detection technology in the city.
Alder. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) held a demonstration of what he calls cutting edge gunshot detection technology at Davis Square Park, on South Marshfield Avenue, by a company called Alarm.com.
Lopez says this system would be good for police.
“The more information they have, the safer they will be. But the other part of this too is, this is what communities want. People want to feel safe, they want to know that we are doing everything possible to make neighborhoods safe,” Lopez said.
Alarm.com gave a demonstration showing how its system can differentiate between loud noises like a nail gun, or a balloon popping, and a gunshot.
Robert Errico is an engineer with Alarm.com.
“The sensor needs to see both events so if we don't see the flash and we hear the bang, it's not a gunshot. If we see a flash and we don't hear the bang, it's not a gunshot,” Errico said.
The pilot program would be in the 15th Ward on the Southwest Side and needs City Hall approval.
ShotSpotter was deactivated last fall, Mayor Brandon Johnson argued the system was unreliable.
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