An independent report by researchers at Cleveland State University has assessed the effectiveness of the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system utilized by the Cleveland Police Department. The comprehensive 185-page analysis, commissioned by the city, evaluated over 87,000 alerts and included feedback from both police officers and residents regarding the technology’s impact on public safety.
Mixed Results for ShotSpotter
The core finding from the CSU report indicates that while ShotSpotter enhances police response times, it does not deter crime. The system was found to reliably identify the time and location of gunfire, enabling officers to arrive at scenes approximately four minutes earlier than the first 911 calls. Despite this improvement in response times, the report echoed previous findings from cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer that ShotSpotter rarely contributes to criminal investigations or reduces crime rates. This limitation was acknowledged by representatives from ShotSpotter.
Strain on Police Resources
A significant concern raised in the report is the burden placed on the already understaffed Cleveland police force. ShotSpotter generates an average of 21 high-priority alerts daily, a volume that officers reported as overwhelming, particularly with current staffing levels of 1,151 officers against a budgeted capacity of 1,350. The classification of these alerts as “life-or-death” situations diverts police attention from other critical calls, ultimately stretching resources thin and leading to longer response times for various types of incidents.
Financial Considerations and Future Options
The financial viability of maintaining the ShotSpotter system is in question. The city currently allocates $914,250 annually for the contract, which is set to expire in April 2024. Previous funding largely originated from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, a source that is no longer available. According to Mike Polensek, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, any continuation of ShotSpotter or a similar technology would necessitate direct funding from the city’s general budget. This financial reality compels city officials to carefully evaluate the system’s benefits against its substantial costs and limited impact on crime reduction.
As the city considers its options, legislation has been proposed to potentially replace ShotSpotter with technology from Flock Safety, the provider of Cleveland’s automated license-plate readers. This proposal has raised concerns due to former Councilman Kerry McCormack transitioning to a role at Flock Safety shortly after leaving office. Although McCormack has stated he is not involved in discussions related to the proposal, Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer has called for a formal and transparent “request for proposal” process. Maurer emphasizes the importance of adhering to competitive bidding guidelines to avoid any perceived conflict of interest and to maintain public trust in the decision-making process.
As Cleveland navigates the complexities of gunshot detection technology, the findings from the CSU report underscore the ongoing debate about balancing effective policing with resource management and financial sustainability.
