Springfield City Council withdraws $1.1 million ShotSpotter contract renewal

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A three-year, $1.1 million contract renewal for gunshot-detection technology was pulled at the Springfield city council meeting on Sept. 1 after questions emerged about the system's effectiveness and concerns that it may contribute to profiling.

The renewal was with SoundThinking Inc., the maker of the technology known as ShotSpotter. The system uses a network of microphones to detect loud, percussive noises and triangulate the location of gunshots, then alerts police. The contract covers 5.25 square miles in the capital city.

Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer moved to withdraw the ordinance that had been placed on the agenda for debate. "I understand there needs to be some clarification with ShotSpotter," Hanauer said.

The motion came after an executive session that members of the public are not permitted to attend.

City says contract under revision

Mayor Misty Buscher said the city is working with ShotSpotter to update the contract before a new ordinance is introduced to the council.

The decision lands in the middle of a broader national debate over acoustic gunshot-detection systems. The technology has drawn scrutiny in other Illinois cities over questions about its accuracy and whether its data can be used in ways that lead to racial profiling or constitutional violations. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson halted the use of the technology two years ago, though the city has since been exploring other gun-violence detection tools.

Chief defends the system

Springfield Police Chief Behl has called ShotSpotter "invaluable," saying it helps officers get to gunfire locations more quickly and supports the department's data-driven approach to policing.

Behl told reporters before the meeting that police have recovered roughly twice as many firearms annually since the technology was installed in 2020. He cautioned that the increase may reflect a combination of factors, including manpower, training, tactics, and other technologies.

"Does it have to do with manpower, does it have to do with training, tactics, and other technologies that we have? Probably. Probably it has a culmination of all of those things, but ShotSpotter definitely puts us in the right spot — where the gunfire is," Behl said.

The chief also said that just over 80 percent of ShotSpotter alerts are confirmed by no one physically picking up the phone to call police. He has not responded to questions about how many of the alerts ultimately produce evidence of gun-related crimes.

Former Chief Ken Scarlette said earlier that, because of ShotSpotter, officers are "a majority of the time" directed to locations where they can find shell casings, which can be a starting point for an investigation.

Alerts concentrated in one ward

According to Behl, the placement of the detectors has not changed since the system was installed. The microphones are positioned in areas that have historically had the most gunshot victims.

Ald. Shawn Gregory, who represents Ward 2, has been outspoken about the need to invest in community programs to reduce crime rather than rely solely on police technology. At the Sept. 1 meeting, Gregory emphasized the value of mentorship. At a recent Committee of the Whole meeting, he said he wanted to sit down with Behl to make sure the city continues to target the high-risk areas the technology identifies if it keeps spending on the system.

City data shows 65 percent of ShotSpotter alerts have come from Ward 2, Gregory's district.

A SoundThinking webpage referenced by Gregory says Springfield has used ShotSpotter data to deploy resources where and when they are needed most. It notes city agencies cleaned more than 55 blocks, reached more than 85 residents through door-to-door outreach, and worked with more than 35 local and national organizations to address neighborhood needs. Mayor Buscher's BUILD Springfield initiative launched in 2023, building on that work, according to the same page.

The council did not set a date for when the revised contract will return.