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* WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell interviewed economist Michael Topper of the Social Science Research Council, who helped draft a study of ShotSpotter, which you can read by clicking here. From the interview…
The stated purpose of ShotSpotter is to get police to the scene of gunfire faster. But your research has found that the technology slows down police response times to 911 calls. Please explain.
911 calls are very different from a ShotSpotter alert. We can think of a 911 call as a citizen in distress calling for police help, whereas a ShotSpotter alert is going to be driven by its machine learning technology. So, what our paper finds is that this introduction of ShotSpotter technology is going to start reallocating police resources away from these 911 calls over to these ShotSpotter alerts. Now, in most cases, this sounds like it could be OK — if you have enough police resources to actually respond to both of these things decently. However, what we’re finding is that CPD is a very resource-scarce department and, in effect, this reallocation is causing 911 calls to essentially suffer in terms of response times. Police officers are taking about two minutes longer to reach the scene. The slower response time is going to result in fewer arrests at these 911 calls.
The case for Chicago to keep ShotSpotter has shifted over the years. It’s gone from helping cops solve crimes to helping gunshot victims get first aid faster. Did you find out anything about response times for gunshot victims?
If a shooting victim was detected through ShotSpotter, we can’t really say too much about this, just because of limitations of getting data involving this private company. But what we can say is that these 911 calls for emergency medical services are getting slower response times and this possibly is affecting the quickness of the treatment that these victims are getting.
There’s more, including a question about a University of Chicago Crime Lab analysis that shows ShotSpotter “likely saves roughly 85 lives per year in Chicago.” So, go read the rest.
* Meanwhile, from the Sun-Times…
Determined to hold onto the Chicago market, ShotSpotter offered Wednesday to cut its price by 48% for the next 15 months — from $1.2 million per month to $626,012 — to give the city time to evaluate gunshot detection options in an open competition the company plans to join.
The system now embedded in 12 of Chicago’s 22 most violent police districts is scheduled to be turned off on Sunday. Mayor Brandon Johnson canceled the city’s contract with SoundThinking, ShotSpotter’s parent company, honoring a campaign promise.
* And ahead of a possible city council vote…
Mayor’s Intergovernmental Affairs team is asking some aldermen to leave the room rather than vote on Shot Spotter contract. @ChiCouncil
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) September 18, 2024
Johnson’s Adminstration has not communicated at all with ShotSpotter about how the technology will end, company leaders have said.
The company’s lobbyist told me just now that ShotSpotter will stop working on Sept. 22 — and not run through the two-month ‘transition period.’ https://t.co/pcSIBPchlL
— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) September 18, 2024
The last-ditch effort to stop Mayor Brandon Johnson from scrapping ShotSpotter begins, with 13 alderpeople and disgraced former Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson holding a news conference. Background, for @wttw: https://t.co/beGIEg88iC
— Heather Cherone (@HeatherCherone) September 18, 2024
FACTS: Univ. of Chgo Crime Lab: “3-in-4 chance the tech saves ~ 85 lives per year.” Chgo Suntimes: response time to a ShotSpotter alert alone was 8 min, 6 sec, compared to 10 min, 48 sec w/911 call alone. When you're bleeding out, every second counts.
https://t.co/9T8hNkOC3H— Susana A. Mendoza ☮️ (@susanamendoza10) September 18, 2024
Comptroller Mendoza has been tweeting a lot about city stuff this summer.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 11:49 am
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My mayor has painted himself into a corner on this. He avoids talking about the very positive component of getting EMT’s faster to shooting victims, which can save lives or improve the prospects of good health recovery. As far as police response, the point I zeroed in on was the big overall problem, there aren’t enough law enforcement officers. I hope the City Council wins this fight.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 11:57 am
Why are these aldermen standing with Eddie Johnson? Have they forgotten that, aside from having been fired because of his own disgraceful and unethical conduct, he has no credibility on this subject? Remember when Johnson confidently told state lawmakers that Rahm & Kwame’s penalty enhancement (now repealed because it didn’t work) would cut shootings in half?
Comment by charles in charge Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:06 pm
No matter the outcome, alders running away and the Mayor sounding crazy is a defeat for MBJ.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:10 pm
great points in the WTTW article:
The issue has split two critical parts of Johnson’s political base: progressive Chicagoans who want to see the system scrapped and Black Chicagoans demanding city officials do everything possible to reduce persistent levels of violence.
A clear no-win situation for Mr. Mayor
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:27 pm
Where is the study on false positives from Shot Spotter? Super curious to know how many wild goose chases CPD has gone on due to a backfiring car or fireworks. How many lives does that cost? How many resources are wasted in those situations?
I don’t really like BJ, and he’s handled this as poorly as anything else during his tenure. But he’s kinda right to describe this “technology” as little more than a microphone on a stick, IMO.
Comment by Lakeview Looker Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:27 pm
Resource scarce? CPD has some of the highest staffing of police per capita of any city in the US.
But regardless, this ties into what should be the real discussion related to Shot Spotter (or the comical do-nothing CTA security contracts): Are we making the best use of our resources?
It doesn’t matter if a product is effective if there are other even more effective for the dollar approaches we could be taking with limited city resources.
I haven’t seen any discussion about how those dollars would be spent in the absence of Shot Spotter, nor have I seen any discussion of why the Shot Spotter proponents think this is the best use of our budget dollars.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:37 pm
Backfiring of a car? Haven’t heard that happen since the 60s…
Re: Mendoza: I hope she learned her lesson from the 2019 election, where her campaign was basically an ad with her old HS soccer coach saying “She’s a girl!” and her showing her dribbling skills in Lincoln Park. Right now, anyone but Paul Vallas or Lori Lightfoot can beat MBJ.
Comment by Old IL Dude Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:38 pm
===Haven’t heard that happen since the 60s===
Yeah, but people shoot off fireworks every day.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:41 pm
One word describes this Mayor- disgraceful
Comment by Sue Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:42 pm
BJ is really reminding me of Rauner. Dude comes into his office thinking he has a mandate for unpopular (or unworkable) policies, and just flops about not having a clue about how to do the job he ran for.
Could you imagine how screwed we would be if they both were in office at the same time?
Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 12:57 pm
I lean towards keeping the technology because of this statement from the Sun Times editorial: “…communities where even well-intentioned residents don’t always call 911, for a variety of reasons, when they hear suspected gunfire. In those neighborhoods, technology to alert police and other first responders can indeed save lives.”
If ShotSpotter is turned off, what replaces it in those communities? It seems that, despite the false alarms, the system does indeed save lives.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/09/17/chicago-shotspotter-brandon-johnson
Comment by Edgewater Resident Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:14 pm
I say follow the money and see why some aldermen are so enamored with it. It doesn’t work well, costs over a million a month, puts additional strain on understaffed responders…
I would put that million a month into hiring more cops and assigning them to the trouble areas.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:23 pm
=- Edgewater Resident - Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:14 pm:==
ShotSpotter is as effective as people calling in and we’ve known that for nearly 7 years in Chicago.
https://southsideweekly.com/shots-heard-round-city-shotspotter-chicago-police/
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:35 pm
I think it would be fair to ask the mayor why, if ShotSpotter is so problematic, he signed a nine-month extension of it for $8.6MM earlier this year.
Comment by Garfield Ridge Guy Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:37 pm
How many (Black/Brown) residents have been illegally stopped, searched and arrested for minor (Un-related) violations because police falsely claimed probable cause due to being in the “Area” of a ShotSpotter “Alert”?
Comment by Dotnonymous x Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:38 pm
Another reason ShotSpotter is ineffective is that it doesn’t properly install or maintain its sensors, and it specifically seeks out of state contractors who don’t follow Chicago’s electrical code. It’s strange how someone like Comptroller Mendoza, supposedly a champion of Illinoi labor and union members, would support a company that imports scab electricians to do their work.
https://theappeal.org/chicago-shotspotter-missed-shootings-brandon-johnson/
Comment by Google Is Your Friend Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:45 pm
In a city with limited financial resources any prudent elected official would want to question the value of a multi-million dollar shot identifying system. The proper approach would be:1-why did we get this system intially?, 2- did it accomplish those goals?, If it didn’t was there ay other good that came out of having the service?, If not and if the initial purpose was not met then get rid if it, unless you have no alternate plan to put into place.
Comment by Center Drift Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 1:46 pm
I wonder what agenda the Social Science Research Council is pushing?
Comment by Chicagonk Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 2:31 pm
“communities where even well-intentioned residents don’t always call 911, for a variety of reasons, when they hear suspected gunfire”
Maybe invest a million dollars a month into addressing the “variety of reasons” why “even well-intentioned residents” of some Chicago communities don’t call 911.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 2:31 pm
No on Shotspotter, no on drones, why why more police helicopters. put the money to community groups cause if they even save one life it’s better. this is the dialogue we’ve been reduced to on crime from one side of the issue.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 3:15 pm
If an entity that receives as much public funding as CPD is truly operating as though it is “resource scarce” that’s far more scandalous than anything to do with the shotspotter contract and a direct indictment of the police and civilian leadership of the department. Where is all the money going?
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 3:16 pm
If it was good enough to extend through summer, NASCAR, Lollapalooza, and the DNC, when it’s mostly tourists coming in, why isn’t it good enough for those who live here and the residents, who want to keep it?
It’s about serving your constituents not serving a campaign pledge given to you by the CTU.
Comment by Frida's boss Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 3:22 pm
We’re not going to solve crime issues with Duck Tracy gadgets. You solve it human to human. That means more money towards the on the street intervention groups, it means beat cops and NPO boots on the ground. You could use informatics and statistical science to map out areas with high predicted incidents and pre deploy forces there. That’s a better use of a million dollars a month than a service contract with a city scaled burglar alarm company with a ninety percent failure rate.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 3:33 pm
=== I wonder what agenda the Social Science Research Council is pushing?===
That Shotspotter is a colosso waste of money.
Comment by 17% solution Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 3:49 pm
– colosso waste of money –
That’s never killed government programs or projects in Chicago or Illinois before. Why should it matter now?
Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Sep 18, 24 @ 9:44 pm