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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Cmdr. Jack Fichtel
DATE: January 24, 2022
SUBJECT:
Resolution authorizing the City of Aurora Police Department to enter a contract with ShotSpotter, Inc. for the installation and set-up of the necessary equipment for a gunshot detection system, and for a three-year service agreement.
PURPOSE:
ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection, alert, and analysis service that is used for timely notification to law enforcement. This timely notification allows for rapid response of law enforcement to firearm discharges in the coverage area, and helps officers on scene locate, more precisely, where the shots were fired from to assist possible victims and collection of valuable evidence.
BACKGROUND:
Gun violence in America’s cities is a devastating epidemic. It has killed more than 65,000 individuals and injured several hundred thousand in just the last five years. What’s more devastating - more than 80% of gunfire incidents are never reported to police. Even when a citizen reports a gunfire incident, the 9-1-1 call typically comes several minutes after the event has occurred, and, based on analysis, the location provided is usually mislocated by 750 feet (on average). As a result, valuable time and resources are wasted trying to locate the incident, greatly diminishing the opportunity to identify suspects and witnesses, recover evidence, and most importantly, render life-saving aid to victims.
DISCUSSION:
When gun crime isn’t reported to police, the people responsible for the shootings feel emboldened to shoot whenever they want with little to no consequences, putting everyone else in the neighborhood at risk. Unaddressed gunfire drives homicides and injuries, but there are other costs to the neighborhood:
Victims don’t get treated fast enough
Residents feel unsafe at home
Neighborhood jobs are lost
The cycle of gun violence continues
ShotSpotter enables an informed and precise police response that is focused on apprehending the shooters, while conveying a sense of respect and compassion for the community.
With ShotSpotter, police become aware of essentially all gunshot incidents in the coverage area. The system detects, locates and alerts police to gunfire in less than 60 seconds using a network of acoustic sensors across the coverage area. This enables a new normal where police can provide a consistent, rapid, and precise response to aid victims, collect evidence, and better serve their communities. It doesn’t take long for perceptions to change among the community, with increased trust in law enforcement to protect and serve them.
Positive outcomes experienced in ShotSpotter coverage areas from other cities include:
Cleveland, OH - 15% reduction in homicides in their coverage area in their first year
Savannah, GA - 6% drop in violent crime in
Fort Myers, FL - 33% decrease in gunfire
Omaha, NE - 55% decrease in homicides in 2019
Oakland, CA - 66% reduction in shootings per square mile
Las Vegas, NV - 26% reduction in violent crime during pilot (expanding from 6 to 23 square miles)
Cincinnati, OH - 46% reduction in gun violence in expansion areas
The data here does not include the collection of evidence from gunshots, which can be inputted in the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN), which is housed at the Aurora Police Department. This data can further connect gun crimes and assist investigators in obtaining leads in the identification of offenders of gun violence.
ShotSpotter is the manufacturer of the equipment and the only company that has such a proprietary product, therefore no competitive bid was completed.
The cost for a two square mile coverage area, with SpotSpotter completing all installation, initiation, and onboarding work, along with three years of coverage is $440,000. (The three-year subscription provides for the included multi-year discount of $20,000) This money would be taken from account 287-3536-421.74-99, which is an approved expenditure under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
By deploying ShotSpotter, the Aurora Police Department will be notified of gunfire events in 60 seconds or less, that the department would otherwise not know about, allowing APD to build community trust, save lives (both citizens and officers) and collect evidence - ultimately leading to a reduction in gun crime.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approve the purchase of ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology to provide installation for two square miles, initiation, and onboarding, as well as a three-year subscription service.
cc: Finance Committee Aldermen
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing the City of Aurora Police Department to enter a contract with ShotSpotter, Inc. for the installation and set-up of the necessary equipment for a gunshot detection system, and for a three-year service agreement.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection, alert, and analysis service that is used for timely notification to law enforcement. This timely notification allows for rapid response of law enforcement to firearm discharges in the coverage area, and helps officers on scene locate, more precisely, where the shots were fired from to assist possible victims and collection of valuable evidence; and
WHEREAS, gun violence in America’s cities is a devastating epidemic. It has killed more than 65,000 individuals and injured several hundred thousand in just the last five years. What’s more devastating - more than 80% of gunfire incidents are never reported to police. Even when a citizen reports a gunfire incident, the 9-1-1 call typically comes several minutes after the event has occurred, and, based on analysis, the location provided is usually mislocated by 750 feet (on average). As a result, valuable time and resources are wasted trying to locate the incident, greatly diminishing the opportunity to identify suspects and witnesses, recover evidence, and most importantly, render life-saving aid to victims; and
WHEREAS, when gun crime isn’t reported to police, the people responsible for the shootings feel emboldened to shoot whenever they want with little to no consequences, putting everyone else in the neighborhood at risk. Unaddressed gunfire drives homicides and injuries, but there are other costs to the neighborhood:
Victims don’t get treated fast enough
Residents feel unsafe at home
Neighborhood jobs are lost
The cycle of gun violence continues
ShotSpotter enables an informed and precise police response that is focused on apprehending the shooters, while conveying a sense of respect and compassion for the community.
WHEREAS; with ShotSpotter, police become aware of essentially all gunshot incidents in the coverage area. The system detects, locates and alerts police to gunfire in less than 60 seconds using a network of acoustic sensors across the coverage area. This enables a new normal where police can provide a consistent, rapid, and precise response to aid victims, collect evidence, and better serve their communities. It doesn’t take long for perceptions to change among the community, with increased trust in law enforcement to protect and serve them; and
WHEREAS, ShotSpotter is the manufacturer of the equipment and the only company that has such a proprietary product, therefore no competitive bid was completed.
The cost for a two square mile coverage area, with SpotSpotter completing all installation, initiation, and onboarding work, along with three years of coverage is $430,000. (The three-year subscription provides for the included multi-year discount of $20,000) This money would be taken from account 287-3536-421.74-99, which is an approved expenditure under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
WHEREAS, By deploying ShotSpotter, the Aurora Police Department will be notified of gunfire events in 60 seconds or less, that the department would otherwise not know about, allowing APD to build community trust, save lives (both citizens and officers) and collect evidence - ultimately leading to a reduction in gun crime.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: approve the purchase of ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology to provide installation for two square miles, initiation and onboarding, as well as a three-year subscription service.