The Issue
Detroit’s contract with SoundThinking for ShotSpotter expires on June 30, 2026. In the coming weeks, City Council will be considering a one-year, $2 million dollar renewal contract. The Detroit Police Department believes gunshot detection technology like ShotSpotter is a tool that helps them in their duties. However, research shows that ShotSpotter does not produce effective outcomes or contribute to public safety. It is a tool that enables a private company to place microphones in Detroit neighborhoods while wasting public tax money and other resources. Detroit has already thrown $7 million at gunshot detection technology, but neither the Detroit Police Department nor SoundThinking have any data to show that ShotSpotter has had measurable or demonstrably effective outcomes. If you believe Detroit could better use its money to fund education, community violence intervention, civilian oversight, housing, etc, contact your Mayor, City Council member, and Board of Police Commissioners Representative, then make a public comment and tell everyone – SHUT DOWN SHOTSPOTTER!
Learn More
University of Michigan Policy Brief “ShotSpotter Fails on Its Own Claims” – https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/research/policy-brief/shotspotter-fails-its-own-claims
Key Takeaway: ShotSpotter’s performance in Detroit fails SoundThinking’s own claims. It does not increase the number of gunfire incidents police departments are able to respond to. It does not improve officer response time. It does not lead to more arrests. ShotSpotter is a redundant system that potentially lowers the number of community members reporting gunshots. The contract should not be renewed and money should be spent elsewhere.
“Causal Analysis of an Acoustic Gunshot Detection System: Evidence From Detroit” – https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6379358
Key Takeaway: Researchers from University of Michigan at Dearborn and Michigan State University conclude that ShotSpotter deployment in Detroit has had (1) no measurable impact on the average officer response time, (2) no measurable impact on rates of non-fatal shootings, and (3) had no measurable impact on homicide rates.
“Impact of ShotSpotter Technology on Firearm Homicides and Arrests Among Large Metropolitan Counties: a Longitudinal Analysis, 1999–2016” – https://wpln.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/02/Doucette-Impact-of-ShotSpotter-Technology-on-Firearm-Homici.pdf
Key Takeaway: In a study of 68 counties across 17 years, the results suggest that implementing ShotSpotter technology has no significant impact on firearm related homicides or arrest rates.
Michigan Advance “As Detroit weighs renewal, ShotSpotter data raises cost-benefit questions” – https://michiganadvance.com/2026/03/09/as-detroit-weighs-renewal-shotspotter-data-raises-cost-benefit-questions/
Key Takeaway: While the Detroit Police Department believes that ShotSpotter is a necessary tool, the ACLU of Michigan and others argue that it is too expensive, has not demonstrated any effectiveness, and raises concerns about potential surveillance.
University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform “”Bang!”: ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection Technology, Predictive Policing, and Measuring Terry’s Reach” – https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr/vol55/iss4/3/
Key Takeaway: This article argues that officers arriving on the scene to investigate a gunshot sound they were alerted of via ShotSpotter technology should not be allowed to use the gunshot sound as the basis of reasonable suspicion and subsequence search and seizure. It also explains that, in practice, ShotSpotter increases the frequency of police interactions, which also increases the risk of Black Americans becoming victims of policy brutality or harassment.
Riverwise “ShotSpotter is Not the Solution: Detroit Needs Community Investment, Not Corporate Control” – https://riverwisedetroit.org/article/hadley-pritchard-shotspotter-is-not-the-solution-detroit-needs-community-investment-not-corporate-control/
Key Takeaway: ShotSpotter creates an illusion of safety, not actual safety. ShotSpotter is unreliable, at best. Solutions to gun violence exists that are less costly and more effective.
We the People Michigan “Six Issues with ShotSpotter” – https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2023-11/ShotSpotter%202-Pager.pdf
Key Takeaway: ShotSpotter lies about their impact and accuracy, wastes public resources, exacerbates existing racial disparities, and puts our neighbors at risk of additional police violence and surveillance. Detroiters deserve to feel safe; the answer is not ShotSpotter. Cities across the country have cut or rejected their ShotSpotter contract.
Detroit Justice Center 2022 Press Release “Detroit Justice Center Calls on City Council to Halt Expansion of ShotSpotter” – https://detroitjustice.org/press-release-regarding-shotspotter/
Key Takeaway: Proponents of ShotSpotter are selling community members a false sense of hope that the technology will bring about an end to gun violence across Detroit. ShotSpotter has not proven to prevent or reduce gun violence anywhere it was in use. We have to stop the cycle of short-term investments and technology-driven solutions for issues that are rooted in human needs not being met. The research and survey data from Detroiters are clear–residents want to see money invested in housing, education, restorative justice, healthcare and mental health, right to counsel, transportation and improved infrastructure. ny funding that goes toward ShotSpotter robs Detroiters of the investments we have been demanding to meet our basic human needs, which have gone unmet for decades.
University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy “Acoustic Gunshot Detection Systems: Community and Policy Considerations” – https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2022-09/STPP%20Acoustic%20Gunshot%20Detection%20Systems%20June%202022%20Final.pdf
Key Takeaways: ShotSpotter’s accuracy, effectiveness, cost, and systemic biases raise serious concerns. It reduces community engagement and does not reduce crime.
Take Action
(1) Call, email, and contact your representatives to tell them not to renew the ShotSpotter contract. Use the Elected Representative toolkit to find the contact information for your representatives – ShotSpotter – Elected Representatives Toolkit
(2) Attend the Public Health and Safety Committee Meeting – Monday 6/22 at 10:00 am – and make a public comment.
In person: Room 1340 – Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
On Zoom: Enter Meeting ID: 858 4690 3626
Or call one of these numbers: +1 929 436 2866, +1 312 626 6799, +1 669 900 6833, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799 – Enter Meeting ID: 858 469 03626
(3) Attend the Detroit City Council Formal Session – Tuesday 6/30 at 10:00 am – and make a public comment.
In person: Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
On Zoom: Enter Meeting ID: 858 4690 3626
Or call one of these numbers: +1 929 436 2866, +1 312 626 6799, +1 669 900 6833, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799 – Enter Meeting ID: 858 469 03626
Public Comment:
To participate at the time of Public Comment, please raise your hand within the zoom application.
1. Telephone participants: Raise your hand by pressing *9
2. Web participants: Raise your hand by clicking raise hand in the application or pressing
a. Windows computer = [ALT] + [Y]
b. Apple computers = [OPTION] + [Y]
To be consistent with how Public Comment has been handled for in-person meetings:
- You will be called on in the order in which your hand is raised
- All time limits set by the meeting Chair will still be enforced
- Any hands raised after the Chair ends submission of public comments, will not be able to speak at the meeting
You will likely be given 2 minutes to make a public comment.
You may use the Public Comment Drafting worksheet to help you prepare your comment – ShotSpotter – Public Comment Worksheet