Key Takeaways
- Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison told the Public Health and Safety Standing Committee on May 18 that the current nine‑month contract extension for ShotSpotter will not expand the technology’s geographic scope.
- However, the city’s Request for Proposal (RFP) issued Feb. 16 explicitly calls for adding coverage in Precincts 3, 4, and 7—areas that include downtown and southwest Detroit—along with specific pilot zones.
- Three vendors submitted bids: SoundThinking (owner of ShotSpotter), Eagle Protection Agency, and Motorola Solutions; the RFP requires a live pilot in scout‑car Areas 312 and 705 within the 3rd and 7th Precincts.
- Publicly available Q&A from the RFP states that the expansion boundaries are fixed and vendors must provide gunshot‑detection coverage for the defined zones, contradicting the chief’s testimony that no expansion is planned.
- The Detroit Police Department has not commented on the expansion, and a Freedom of Information Act request is pending to obtain the RFP’s maps and detailed specifications.
- Council Member Gabriela Santiago‑Romero, whose district overlaps the proposed expansion, says she will seek evidence that any geographic enlargement actually reduces crime before approving a longer‑term contract.
- Privacy advocates and council members continue to question the technology’s $2 million nine‑month price tag and worry that a broader rollout could increase surveillance costs and civil‑liberties impacts.
- ShotSpotter currently monitors about 39 sq mi; the proposed pilot areas would add roughly 2.24 sq mi, and four additional scout‑car zones could contribute at least another 4.28 sq mi, potentially raising total coverage to over 45 sq mi.
- The extension remains under review by the Public Health and Safety Committee, with further discussion scheduled for June 22; the existing contract expires June 30.
Background of the ShotSpotter Contract in Detroit
The City of Detroit has employed ShotSpotter, an acoustic gunshot‑detection system, for several years to help police locate gunfire incidents in real time. The current agreement with SoundThinking, the company that owns ShotSpotter, is set to expire on June 30. As the expiration date approaches, the administration is seeking a short‑term extension while it evaluates longer‑term options through a formal procurement process.
May 18 Public Health and Safety Committee Testimony
During the May 18 meeting of the Detroit City Council’s Public Health and Safety Standing Committee, Police Chief Todd Bettison informed council members that the proposed nine‑month extension to the ShotSpotter contract would not include any geographic expansion. He framed the extension as a stopgap measure to maintain existing coverage while the city reviews alternative providers.
Details of the Nine‑Month Extension Proposal
The extension request seeks just over $2 million to keep ShotSpotter operational for nine months. City officials argue that this interim period is necessary to complete the evaluation of competing bids and to avoid a lapse in gunshot‑detection capability. The proposal is currently housed in the Public Health and Safety Committee, awaiting further deliberation.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) Process
On February 16, the Office of Contracting and Procurement issued an RFP for a new gunshot‑detection vendor. The bidding window closed on March 31, yielding three submissions: SoundThinking (ShotSpotter), Eagle Protection Agency, and Motorola Solutions. Although the RFP’s full documents are not publicly posted, the city has released a summary of requirements and a public Q&A section.
Planned Geographic Expansion Outlined in the RFP
Contrary to Chief Bettison’s testimony, the RFP explicitly calls for expanding ShotSpotter’s reach into two additional police precincts—Precincts 3 and 7—and an increased portion of Precinct 4. These areas collectively cover downtown Detroit and parts of the southwest side. The RFP also mandates a live pilot deployment in two scout‑car zones: Area 312 (near downtown) and Area 705 (close to Gratiot Woods), both located within the 3rd and 7th Precincts.
Absence of Expansion Details in Committee Testimony
Chief Bettison did not mention the planned geographic expansion during his May 18 testimony, nor did any other police department representative reference it in two separate hearings concerning the nine‑month extension. This omission has raised questions among council members and community advocates about transparency and the alignment between the administration’s public statements and the procurement documents.
Vendor Requirements and Pilot Mandates
The RFP’s publicly available Q&A clarifies that vendors must implement the pilot in the specified scout‑car areas and provide gunshot‑detection coverage for the defined boundaries, which are described as fixed and not subject to change. The city requires that any chosen supplier demonstrate the ability to detect and locate gunfire within these zones before a longer‑term contract can be awarded.
FOIA Request and Lack of Department Comment
Because the detailed maps and technical specifications of the proposed expansion are not publicly accessible, the Michigan Advance has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain those documents. The Detroit Police Department has not responded to multiple inquiries—via email, web form, and text—seeking comment on the expansion or the RFP’s specifics, contributing to uncertainty about the city’s intentions.
Council Member Gabriela Santiago‑Romero’s Position
Council Member Gabriela Santiago‑Romero, who chairs the Public Health and Safety Committee and represents a district that overlaps part of the proposed expansion, issued a statement emphasizing her intent to scrutinize any geographic enlargement. She said she will ask the police department to demonstrate how expanded ShotSpotter coverage would actually reduce crime and will evaluate future proposals based on proven effectiveness rather than on assumptions about deterrence.
Privacy, Surveillance, and Cost Concerns
City council members and community organizers have repeatedly voiced apprehensions about ShotSpotter’s implications for privacy and its high financial cost. The current $2 million nine‑month extension already draws criticism as a steep expense for a technology whose efficacy remains debated. Critics warn that broadening the system’s footprint could amplify surveillance reach, potentially infringing on residents’ rights while increasing the fiscal burden on the city.
Current Coverage and Potential Increase
According to Detroit Police Department data, ShotSpotter presently monitors roughly 39 square miles across the city. The pilot locations mandated by the RFP would add about 2.24 square miles, and the four additional scout‑car areas referenced in the Q&A could contribute at least another 4.28 square miles. If fully implemented, the expanded system could cover more than 45 square miles, representing a notable increase in the area subject to acoustic gunshot detection.
Next Steps and Ongoing Review
The nine‑month contract extension remains under consideration by the Public Health and Safety Committee, with further discussion slated for the June 22 meeting. As the existing agreement expires June 30, the administration must decide whether to approve the interim extension, pursue a new long‑term contract with one of the three bidders, or explore alternative technologies. The outcome will hinge on the committee’s assessment of cost, effectiveness, privacy safeguards, and the demonstrated value of any geographic expansion.