When Shots Fired, Cops “Hear” It Instantly | NBC Chicago
[From When Shots Fired, Cops "Hear" It Instantly | NBC Chicago]
The history of gunshot detection in Chicago begins with a trial in 2004 by Safety Dynamics and a later pilot program in 2007 with ShotSpotter. In April, I noted that despite ShotSpotter – Not a Silver Bullet, the city felt gunshot detection was too expensive. The NBC reporters decided to pursue this story:
But now? Both systems appear to have gone by the wayside. A police spokesman wrote in an e-mail that the programs were “not entirely effective” in an urban environment. The cost of the programs were also cited. Despite repeated requests to interview Chicago police, our requests went unanswered.
Perhaps the reason for the silence is the fact that the city apparently hasn’t paid its bills. Officials from both ShotSpotter and Safety Dynamics said the city owes them money. Safety Dynamics said it would like its equipment back or be paid. Shot Spotter said the city owes them close to $200,000.
The story does mention (as will ShotSpotter) that there are cities that are happy with the results of the gunshot detection technology. The more interesting part of the story for me is not Chicago’s unwillingness to use the technology, but their inability to be open to the public about the technologies they use.
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