ShotSpotter Missed 47% of Gunshot Victims in Chicago Police Data
Between October 2017 and July 2018, a Chicago police analyst tracked ShotSpotter's accuracy in the 10th district and found it correctly detected only 63 of 135 shootings where a person was struck, a 47% rate. The analyst shared the findings with CPD and ShotSpotter, and the company installed additional sensors, but accuracy remained below 50%. Despite this, the city signed a $33 million contract extension. SoundThinking says the system meets performance guarantees and has helped locate hundreds of victims.
- Company involved
- Chicago Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
1 source article · read the reporting →
NYPD's ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System Found Largely Inaccurate, Wasting Resources
An audit by the New York City Comptroller found that ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system used by the NYPD, is overwhelmingly inaccurate. Only 13 percent of alerts in June 2023 corresponded to confirmed shootings, and the system missed over 200 real gunfire incidents in Manhattan in 2022. The NYPD has spent more than $45 million on the system since 2015. The comptroller advised against renewing the contract until the system can be fully evaluated.
- Company involved
- New York Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Houston's ShotSpotter system delays police response and over-polices minority communities
Houston Police Department deployed ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, in Southeast and Northwest Houston starting in late 2020. The system alerts police to suspected gunfire, but over 80% of alerts are unfounded. This has led to longer response times for other calls and increased police presence in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods, causing anxiety and concerns of over-policing. Critics argue the technology has not reduced gun violence and diverts resources from more effective strategies.
- Company involved
- Houston Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
7 source articles · read the reporting →
