CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Despite some resistance from alderpersons, Mayor Brandon Johnson has remained committed to phasing out Chicago's contract for the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, which has been in use since 2011.
The head of the company that makes the equipment told WBBM that the facts favor the alders.
ShotSpotter is a system that uses a network of audio sensors to detect and pinpoint gunshots in an area. That allows for police to be alerted. Ralph Clark, CEO of SoundThinking, which is ShotSpotter's parent company, explained how ShotSpotter knows where the shot came from.
“When three or more sensors detect a pop, boom or a bang, they’re able to do something called ‘time of arrival’ analysis,” he said. “Each sensor will hear that pop, boom or bang at a slightly different time, and we’re able to mathematically pinpoint the exact location or source of that pop, boom or bang.”
Critics, including Johnson, have said the system doesn't work as well as it should and can trigger problems. Clark maintained that the system has actually overperformed said police records show that it has saved lives.
“We have a 97% accuracy rate across our 160-plus deployments across the United States,” said Clark. “We have a contractual guarantee of 90% accuracy, but we’re performing much higher at 97%.”
As recently as Friday, though, Johnson reiterated that he will not go back on his decision to end the ShotSpotter contract in September. Some aldermen have tried to tie his hands and allow individual wards to choose to continue the gunshot detection program. The mayor said they don't have the power to do that.
Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling has said Shotspotter does help his officers get to the scene of the gunfire quicker — but he’s accepted that he may have to do without the tool.
ShotSpotter is the topic of Sunday’s “At Issue” program, and you can hear the full episode live on WBBM Newsradio at 9:30 p.m.
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