Detroit Police Explore Expanding Gunshot Detection Tech to Downtown
Detroit police seek to expand gunshot detection technology into downtown and southwest areas while evaluating alternatives to current ShotSpotter system.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Detroit police officials are considering expanding gunshot detection technology into downtown and southwest neighborhoods while evaluating alternatives to their current ShotSpotter system, according to city procurement documents and police testimony.
The Detroit Police Department issued a Request for Proposal on February 16 seeking bids for gunshot detection services that would extend coverage into precincts 3 and 7, as well as an increased portion of precinct 4. The RFP closed on March 31 with three companies submitting bids: SoundThinking (which owns ShotSpotter), Eagle Protection Agency, and Motorola Solutions.
Current Contract Extension Under Review
During a May 18 meeting of the Detroit City Council’s Public Health and Safety Standing Committee, Police Chief Todd Bettison discussed a proposed nine-month extension to the city’s current ShotSpotter contract. Bettison told council members that this short-term extension would not include geographic expansion of the technology.
The chief did not mention the separate plans for expansion outlined in the February RFP during his committee testimony. No other police department representatives discussed the expansion plans during two separate hearings about the nine-month extension.
Downtown and Southwest Expansion Planned
The procurement documents reveal the city’s intention to expand gunshot detection coverage beyond its current scope. “The expansion zones seem to correlate with Precinct zones 3, 4 & 7,” according to a note on the Office of Contracting and Procurement’s bid opportunities portal.
The expanded coverage areas would include downtown Detroit and southwest neighborhoods. The RFP requires the chosen vendor to conduct a pilot program in two scout car areas: one located directly downtown and another near Gratiot Woods.
“The City mandates a live pilot deployment within the 3rd and 7th Precincts,” states a response in the public Q&A section of the RFP. “Vendors shall implement the pilot in the specified areas, identified as Area 312 and Area 705.”
Technology Evaluation Process
The nine-month contract extension allows Detroit officials time to evaluate the three competing proposals for long-term gunshot detection services. The current ShotSpotter system uses acoustic sensors to detect and locate gunfire, alerting police to incidents in real-time.
Detroit has used ShotSpotter technology for several years, with sensors currently deployed in select areas of the city. The system operates through a network of acoustic sensors that can triangulate the location of gunshots and automatically notify police dispatchers.
The city’s Real Time Crime Center monitors ShotSpotter alerts alongside other surveillance technologies to coordinate police response. Staff members track alerts on large wall-mounted screens showing maps with pinpoint locations of detected gunfire.
City officials have not yet announced when they expect to award the long-term contract or begin implementation of the expanded coverage areas.
