Chicago City Council and Mayor Clash Over ShotSpotter's Future

Mayor Johnson aims to cancel the gunshot detection system, while City Council members push to extend its contract citing public safety concerns.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is determined to cancel the ShotSpotter contract, fulfilling a campaign promise despite opposition from City Council members.
ShotSpotter has offered a 48% price reduction for a 15-month extension, lowering the cost to $626,012 per month, contingent on Council approval by September 20.
Supporters argue that ShotSpotter saves lives by reducing police response times and identifying nearly 2,000 gunshot victims over 19 months.
Critics, including the Chicago Inspector General, question the technology's effectiveness, noting only 9% of alerts were linked to gun-related crimes.
A legislative showdown is expected, with Council members planning to vote on an ordinance that would transfer contract authority to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.