Cities Ditch ShotSpotter Tech That Has Worked To Catch Killers

Article excerpt

Several cities are abandoning ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection system that uses acoustic sensors to alert police to shootings in real time. Proponents say the technology helps officers respond faster and has aided in solving homicides, but critics argue the system generates false alarms, diverts police resources to low-crime neighborhoods, and raises privacy concerns. The exits reflect a broader debate over predictive policing tools: whether they genuinely reduce violence or simply intensify enforcement in already heavily monitored communities.