Chicago officials are preparing to launch a pilot program to test new gunshot detection technology in six neighborhoods in the south and west. The program was announced almost two years after Chicago stopped using the ShotSpotter system.
Many aldermen, however, are skeptical of the pilot. They say they are frustrated by the lack of details and the little progress made on replacing the system. The city’s chief procurement officer announced the pilot program at a City Council committee meeting on Tuesday. The program is meant to evaluate how well the new gunshot detection technology works in real-world conditions.
Some aldermen asked why Chicago is still testing technology when it received at least nine proposals to replace ShotSpotter in April 2025. After the system was phased out in 2024, 15 companies presented the city with proposals for new gunshot detection tools. The proposals included both practical solutions and more radical ideas, from the use of drones and artificial intelligence to the smartphones of residents.
“We should already have a solution ready. Why are we still running pilot programs and tests? Why don’t we just move on to concrete action?” asked Ald. Emma Mitts of the 37th Ward. Aldermen also criticized the absence of representatives of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration at the committee meeting, noting that questions about the pilot program went unanswered. “We haven’t received any information, and all we wanted was for someone to come and talk to us about it. Have you even contacted any vendor at all?” Mitts asked.
Mayor Johnson is defending his decision to replace ShotSpotter with technology that, in his view, is meant to be more effective. On Wednesday, Johnson said the city could test solutions from various companies instead of limiting itself to choosing a single vendor. “There are many companies offering different technologies that can help us detect or identify gunshots, but they have to be effective solutions. Entities or companies that want to work with Chicago must be absolutely clear: they cannot contribute to harming our city or supply us with useless equipment,” the mayor said.
The discussion also drew the attention of community leaders. Father Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Parish, said he believes the city needs gunshot detection technology. But he expressed doubt about whether recent steps will actually move the matter forward. “We have to start by asking: Is this really happening? Are we actually going to do this? If so, let’s do it now. People ask whether this is just campaign rhetoric. Maybe it is, but you know what? I don’t even care, and if that’s what it takes to get the issue back on the agenda, then so be it,” Pfleger said.
While Chicago aldermen wait for additional information about the pilot program, city officials have not yet said when the testing will begin.
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Source: Polski.FM
