ShotSpotter: Houston Mayor John Whitmire wants to cancel

HOUSTON — Mayor John Whitmire said Tuesday he wants to cancel Houston’s $3.5 million ShotSpotter contract, calling the gunshot detection technology a “gimmick.”

“I will continue to call it a gimmick,” he said. “I think it was one of those programs that was implemented to make people believe that we’re actually fighting crime, but it doesn’t affect the crime rate.”

ShotSpotter is currently used in parts of Aldine, northern Harris County, and a 5 square mile area on the southeast side of Houston. The technology uses “acoustic” sensors to detect and locate sounds that may represent gunshots, which are then reported to local law enforcement.

The city’s five-year contract with ShotSpotter’s parent company, SoundThinking, is set to end in 2027, but speaking to KHOU 11, Whitmire expressed his desire to end the contract early and use the money saved to support other law enforcement efforts.

RELATED: Woman found shot multiple times after police alerted by ShotSpotter, HPD says

“I want to take advantage of those savings if we can terminate the contract and dedicate them to a new class of cadets, so we can’t afford to waste a dollar on criminal justice,” he said. “We want to grow in technology, but it has to be smart, precise and cost-effective. »

In a statement, SoundThinking said that while it respects Whitmire’s decision not to extend Houston’s contract, the company “believes his comments to be misinformed and inaccurate.” ShotSpotter helped Houston first responders locate at least 35 gunshot victims, according to SoundThinking.

“The effectiveness of ShotSpotter can be measured by the difference it makes to every life saved – and for these people, the tool was the difference between life and death, not a ‘gimmick,’ the company said .

Whitmire’s comments come after a City Council workshop Tuesday where there was discussion about the Houston police budget. Several council members expressed concerns about ShotSpotter to HPD Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite.

While explaining that ShotSpotter technology has benefited some gunshot victims, he revealed that it has drawbacks. Satterwhite also acknowledged that ShotSpotter alerts coded as high priority sometimes distracted officers from other crimes, including burglaries in progress.

RELATED: Harris County says gunshot detection device led to multiple seizures, arrests and charges

“I don’t have to tell you yet that he’s doing everything we want,” Satterwhite told council members. “It’s a very expensive program and it covers a very small area.”

There have long been questions about the accuracy and necessity of ShotSpotter technology. Critics have said the program is too costly and could strain police relationships with the communities in which the sensors are placed. However, people who support the program have called it a “game changer,” citing arrests made in connection with ShotSpotter.

HPD previously announced that the ShotSpotter program generated more than 5,000 shooting alerts and led to 99 arrests and 126 charges between late 2020 and early 2023.

If Houston ends its current contract, it would follow other cities like San Antonio and New Orleans that have previously ended their ShotSpotter programs. Earlier this year, Chicago officials announced that the Windy City would not renew its contract for gun detection technology.