Chicago Mayor Johnson Cancels Controversial ShotSpotter Contract

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that the city will not renew its contract with ShotSpotter's owner, SoundThinking, and will decommission the technology on September 22, 2024. Over the next months, law enforcement and community leaders will assess other gun violence prevention tools, implement new training, and develop response models to reduce shootings and increase accountability. The decision follows years of debate over the effectiveness of ShotSpotter, with some arguing it leads to over-policing of marginalized communities and others highlighting its role in aiding authorities.