Chicago police have decided to halt the use of the SHOTSPOTER shots detection system, citing concerns over excessive police presence in marginalized communities. Shotspotter, which utilizes microphones and artificial intelligence to identify gunshot sounds but often picks up on other loud noises, has resulted in heightened patrols, particularly in black neighborhoods where the system is employed.
The decision to discontinue the use of Shotspotter in Chicago came after Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city council clashed over its effectiveness. Mayor Johnson, who vowed to remove the system during his election campaign, criticized Shotspotter as an ineffective tool that has cost nearly $100 million and perpetuated more stops and searches in low-income areas.
According to the manufacturer’s data, Shotspotter is utilized in over 160 cities across the United States. The system has been operational in Chicago since 2012 and saw significant expansion in 2017, especially in impoverished communities with predominantly black residents. Reports from July indicated that two designated areas were comprised of 75% and 95% black residents.
Nationwide, approximately 25,580 Shotspotter microphones have been deployed, with around 70% of the system’s coverage areas being home to African American or Latinx residents, whose average household income is approximately $50,000 annually.
Audits conducted in Chicago and New York revealed that Shotspotter rarely results in arrests for gun-related crimes. In Chicago, only 9% of the 50,000-plus Shotspotter alerts were linked to armed offenses, while in New York, just 13% of alerts were substantiated as shooting incidents.
Last year, the advocacy group Professional Protecting Epic petitioned the U.S. Attorney General to cease funding for Shotspotter or launch an investigation into its application. The organization claimed the technology violates civil rights and contributes to heightened police activities in minority communities.
One such incident involved a man who spent nearly a year in prison on erroneous evidence obtained through Shotspotter. The man was charged with the murder of a young man during public disturbances based on faulty data provided by the system.