CHICAGO — A Chicago alderman will announce Monday the possible deployment of a new gunshot detection system in parts of his district to help fill the void left when Mayor Brandon Johnson ended the city’s relationship with ShotSpotter on Sept. 23.
Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) said in a statement that he will unveil “a proof of concept gunshot detection and response system” based on a new product offered by Alarm.com. If it comes to fruition, the pilot program is expected to include both indoor and outdoor gunshot detection sensors.
The councilor said the company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ“is not charging a fee for this pilot and is not involved in any proposal from the city’s Department of Procurement Services.”
“I am excited to demonstrate this multifaceted approach that coordinates acoustic and infrared technology, camera coordination and automated drone deployment, in addition to our Chicago Police Department’s commitment to constitutional policing on the Southwest Side,” Lopez said in the announcement.
However, Lopez’s press release stated that Johnson’s administration must provide “final approval of coordination” between the company and municipal departments such as CPD. The list of expected attendees for Monday’s announcement does not include anyone from Johnson’s government.
According to Lopez’s announcement, Alarm.com’s system uses acoustic sensors and infrared technology to detect the sound of gunfire and the muzzle flash caused by a shot. This two-pronged approach “reduces the likelihood of false alerts,” the statement said.
Coincidentally the company announced plans to debut its outdoor gunfire detection system on September 19, four days before the city’s ShotSpotter service ended. Last fall, Alarm.com referred to its outdoor gunfire product as are in “beta” modewhere each sensor can monitor 15,700 square meters.
Lopez and company officials will unveil their plan at Davis Square Park, 4430 South Marshfield. Based on Alarm.com’s documentation, it would have to deploy 25 sensors to cover the park alone. At scale, it would take more than 1,800 sensors to monitor a square kilometer.
Three people were shot, one fatally, in Davis Square Park in October 2012. An on-duty officer for alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives was shot and seriously injured in a street adjacent to the park in May 2018.
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