New Gunshot Detection Program in Chicago Seeks City Approval
Chicago, IL – A New Era in Gun Violence Reduction
CHICAGO – A brand new gunshot detection program could soon be underway in Chicago if Mayor Brandon Johnson gives it the green light.
Pilot Program to Launch in Back of the Yards
Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) held a press conference Monday in Back of the Yards showcasing a new gunshot detection program he hopes will soon be operating within a half square mile of his ward.
“This city used to be known for thinking big things. Well, this is the next generation of big things,” Lopez said. “We are targeting the main areas within Back of the Yards that have the most consistent gun violence based on the public data readily available.”
Alarm.com’s Gunshot Detection Technology
Alarm.com, a company out of Washington, D.C., is offering a pilot program that uses a two-step process to detect gunshots. The technology is different from ShotSpotter, which was previously used in Chicago.
The technology uses infrared detection of a muzzle flare to confirm a gunshot, and it can automatically deploy drones. The data is then sent immediately to the Chicago Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management Communications.
ShotSpotter’s Legacy
Chicago is still trying to find a replacement for ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system that cost about $9 million a year. Johnson claimed ShotSpotter was overpriced and unreliable, and the city did away with it last year.
Some alders fear the RFI is a case of going through the motions, with one requirement being a ShotSpotter replacement must cover the entire 235 square miles of the city, which some said isn’t plausible as sensor capability is lowered downtown due to skyscrapers.
Criticisms and Concerns
Critics, however, said any contract the city enters into should be independently tested. Jose Manuel Almanza, a community organizer and member of the Stop ShotSpotter Coalition, said technology like this could potentially lead to people being wrongfully put in jail, saying even “free” can come at a cost.
“Let [the Office of the Inspector General] test it out and prove to the City of Chicago that it’s worth our taxpayers, and I’m willing to bet they will not do that because it’s not,” Almanza said. “In those six months, that could happen to anyone else. What’s going to happen to those individuals that get wrongfully imprisoned because of a false positive or something related to this? And to me, that’s just not worth it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is the cost of the new gunshot detection program?
+ The program is being offered free of charge for six months, but it’s unclear how the costs would stack up after that.
* How does the technology respond to fireworks?
+ There is currently no breakdown from the company regarding a rate of false positives or negatives.
* How will the city test the technology?
+ The city has not yet announced a plan for testing the technology.
Conclusion
The proposed gunshot detection program in Chicago has sparked both hope and concern. While it has the potential to reduce gun violence, there are also concerns about its accuracy and the potential for wrongful imprisonment. As the city deliberates on the program, it’s important to consider the long-term implications and the potential costs and benefits.
