Controversial use of gunshot detection technology in neighborhood where large number of already police reside
Gun violence, while not uncommon in the 16th Police District (Jefferson Park) of Chicago, remains significantly lower than in many other parts of the city. Nestled in the far Northwest Side, Jefferson Park and its adjacent neighborhood, Gladstone Park, boast a tranquil environment, housing numerous Chicago police officers, firefighters, and their families. Tree-lined side streets adorned with little free libraries contribute to the residents’ description of the area as “quiet.”
However, a recent revelation sheds light on the deployment of ShotSpotter’s gunshot-detection technology in these peaceful communities. The Mayor’s Office, responding to a public-records request from the Weekly, provided a map exposing two discreet pockets in the 16th District where ShotSpotter sensors operate and another near the 17th District’s border. Astonishingly, the city has never publicly acknowledged the presence of these sensors, a fact seemingly overlooked by a 2021 Inspector General’s report on ShotSpotter.