A report by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) that said officers respond more quickly to ShotSpotter alerts than 911 calls doesn’t make a convincing argument for keeping the technology, according to experts who reviewed it. Eight university professors specializing in data science, sociology and criminology said the report lacked a number of key statistical measurements, and several questioned the accuracy of the report’s response time data.
Ald. David Moore (17th Ward) and other City Council members who are advancing an ordinance that would allow them to keep ShotSpotter in their wards requested the data from CPD. The ordinance, which the Reader reported was written with help from a ShotSpotter lobbyist, would also direct CPD to collect data on the number of shell casings and weapons recovered as a result of alerts. On April 1, the Committee on Police and Fire advanced the ordinance to the City Council, setting up a clash with Mayor Brandon Johnson, who announced in February that the City’s contract with ShotSpotter will expire in November. Moore did not respond to a request for comment…
Eric L. Piza, Ph.D. 