New Tools for a Safer Chicago

As the ShotSpotter system went offline, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is now calling for new violent crime response tools. This move marks the beginning of a typically months-long procurement process. The city's request for information is aimed at gathering interest from a wide range of technologies that can quickly respond to emergency situations. The city hopes to attract attention from new technologies that can detect, vet, and report incidents to police within 60 seconds. The city's deputy mayor for community safety, Garien Gatewood, emphasized the importance of exploring new options. "Crime is still and will forever be the number one issue," he said. "We need to see what options are out there." The city's request for proposals will be open for six weeks, after which the city will create a request for more specific proposals that could lead to a contract.

The working group responsible for requesting and weighing the new technologies includes members from law enforcement, violence prevention groups, and elected police district councils. This diverse group aims to ensure that multiple constituencies are heard, as this is a hot-button issue. The city's decision to end the ShotSpotter deal has sparked a heated debate in the City Council. Most aldermen have rebuffed Johnson's criticism of the tool, citing its importance in helping to get gunshot victims medical aid quickly. However, the mayor's administration argues that the votes are moot, as only the mayor has the power to make changes to city contracts.

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