Gunshot detection system to be launched in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood
CHICAGO - A gunshot detection system is set to be launched in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) announced on Monday.
What we know:
The alderman said the new pilot program from Alarm.com is designed to help the Chicago Police Department with accurate detection of gunshots in the 15th Ward. The initial deployment will be tested in select locations in the ward.
"Alarm.com and I have been working for months to create a gunshot detection program that enhances public safety for a community that experiences recurring gun violence," said Lopez in a statement. "I am excited to showcase this multi-pronged approach that coordinates acoustic and infrared technology, camera coordination, and automated drone deployment alongside our Chicago Police Department’s commitment to constitutional policing on the southwest side."
The system will use outdoor and indoor gunshot detection sensors developed by Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), a subsidiary of Alarm.com, and video cameras managed through an "advanced software platform," according to the alderman. The technology uses both the acoustic sound of the shot and the muzzle flash using infrared technology to accurately detect a gunshot.
Lopez said the technology has been used by the U.S. military since 2005 and has been commercially available since 2014. It’s also been certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"The coordination between the technology and local law enforcement will increase our efficiency and adaptability based on problem-oriented policing strategies," Lopez said in a statement.
The alderman said Alarm.com is not charging for the pilot program.
What's next:
Lopez said he will file a letter of acceptance outlining the scope and value of the project with the Board of Ethics and the Department of Finance after final approval of coordination is granted by Mayor Brandon Johnson's office.
Gunshot detection controversy
The backstory:
The announcement of the pilot program with Alarm.com comes months after the city took another gunshot detection system offline following criticism over the technology’s accuracy.
Last September, the ShotSpotter system was taken down despite some City Council members, including Lopez, arguing it should have remained in place. The council voted 33-14 to keep ShotSpotter, but Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed the move and argued the technology was an "ineffective tool."
ShotSpotter was first introduced in Chicago in 2018 under then-police Supt. Eddie Johnson. Police have said the technology helps them respond to the scene of a shooting faster.