Qu’est-ce qu’un ShotSpotter ? Comment la police de Chicago utilise des équipements de haute technologie pour lutter contre le crime
Les critiques disent que le système, connu sous le nom de ShotSpotter, ne permet pas de résoudre suffisamment de crimes.
En fait, le rapport de l’inspecteur général de la ville a révélé que moins de 10 % des alertes ShotSpotter étaient liées à des crimes commis avec des armes à feu.
Cependant, la police a déclaré qu’elle aidait et signalait un crime très médiatisé qu’elle attribue à la résolution rapide, grâce à la technologie.
Un meurtre en plein jour a choqué la ville après une Un grand-père de 71 ans a été abattu en milieu de journée à Chinatown le mois dernier.
Quelques secondes après le crime, la police de Chicago a reçu une alerte ShotSpotter.
Les ShotSpotters écoutent le bruit des coups de feu, puis envoient des alertes aux agents avec des emplacements spécifiques.
Cette alerte est parvenue au Centre d’aide à la décision stratégique du quartier général de la police du 9e district.
Un officier a ensuite regardé les caméras vidéo exploitées par la ville près de la scène du crime.
Les enquêteurs ont déclaré que des témoins avaient aidé à identifier la voiture du suspect à l’aide d’un lecteur de plaque d’immatriculation, qui est une autre technologie qu’ils utilisent.
CONNEXES: Aucun crime signalé par la police de Chicago après 86% des alertes de coups de feu ShotSpotter
La combinaison de technologies a aidé la police à retrouver la voiture d’Alphonso Joyner, 23 ans, environ une heure plus tard sur l’autoroute Dan Ryan.
Joyner est maintenant accusé du meurtre de Woom Sing Tse. Il a plaidé non coupable.
« Nous l’avons arrêté sans incident sur l’autoroute, procédé à une arrestation [and recovered the gun, so it really highlighted how the whole system works, » said Commander Don Jerome with the Chicago Police Department.
Jerome said he was skeptical when the department first opened this Strategic Decision Support Center four years ago. Eyewitness News was recently given exclusive access to the room in an effort to show how it works.
Jerome said despite his initial hesitation, he’s now a supporter.
« I’ve seen success stories almost every day, so I’m convinced, » he said.
In a recorded ShotSpotter incident from last week, police said they were able to react quickly enough to find the victim still alive in his car, along with shell casings from two weapons.
« We’ve seen the benefit. How positive an impact it has on catching criminals, tampering down the violence that plagues our communities, » Alderman Raymond Lopez, 15th Ward, said.
ShotSpotter towers cover Lopez’s ward and much of the city.
Every police district in the city now has a room with an officer and civilians keeping close watch, but the technology has plenty of critics.
Last year, the city’s inspector general found just 9.1% of the more than 50,000 ShotSpotter alerts were linked to gun-related crimes.
RELATED: Chicago aldermen question police about controversial ShotSpotter technology
At the time, Deputy Inspector General Deborah Witzburg wrote ShotSpotter « … should be able to demonstrate the benefit of its use in combatting violent crime. The data we analyzed plainly doesn’t do that. »
The company responded to questions raised about that OIG report saying, « The Chicago Police Department continually describes ShotSpotter as an important part of their operations. The OIG report did not specifically suggest that ShotSpotter alerts are not indicative of actual gunfire whether or not a police report is filed or physical evidence is recovered. It is important to note that traditional 911 calls for service from community members during this same time period resulted in a police report or evidence found in only 16 percent of incidents, no better than ShotSpotter alerts at 17 percent, and there is universal agreement about the value of the 911 system. ShotSpotter’s accuracy has been independently audited at 97 percent based on feedback from more than 120 customers. We would defer to the Chicago Police Department to respond to the value the department gets from being able to precisely respond to criminal incidents of gunfire. We work very closely with our agency customers to ensure they get maximum value out of our service. »
« ShotSpotter doesn’t reduce or prevent gunshots. It is a response after violence has occurred, » said Alyx Woodward, with Campaign to Cancel ShotSpotter.
The Campaign to Cancel ShotSpotter has held demonstrations in an effort to convince the city to cancel its contract with ShotSpotter. They said ShotSpotter is concentrated in Black and LatinX neighborhoods.
« It’s the new stop and frisk policy here in Chicago, » said Jose Manuel Almanza Jr., with the Stop ShotSpotter Coalition.
A spokesperson for ShotSpotter said, « Coverage areas are determined by police department customers analyzing historical gunfire and homicide data to identify areas most in need of gunshot detection. ShotSpotter believes that all residents who live in communities experiencing persistent gunfire deserve a rapid police response, which gunshot detection enables regardless of race or geographic location. »
The number of alerts from ShotSpotter equipment is on the rise. According to city data, alerts were up 39% in 2021. So far this year, they’re up 43% compared to the same time last year.
Critics said the millions of dollars the city is spending on the its contract with ShotSpotter would be better spent on community programs to prevent violence.
Lopez agrees about the need for more neighborhood programs, in addition to the technology.
RELATED: Republican lawmakers seek to repeal criminal justice bill, claiming it makes ‘crime even worse’
« This is a tool that allows us to bring people to justice and provide closure for victims, » he said.
The city’s multi-million dollar contract with ShotSpotter now runs until August of 2023. Opponents, however, said they plan to continue lobbying the city to cancel the contract early.
« ShotSpotter has been in operation for 25 years, serves more than 120 cities, and has earned trust and high renewal rates from many police departments because the system is effective in helping to save lives, capture critical evidence, and make communities safer. We remain committed to our work in Chicago and look forward to helping CPD achieve as much operational value from ShotSpotter as possible, » Shotspotter said.
Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.