Detroit Evening Report: Detroit City Council approves $7 million expansion of ShotSpotter program

Welcome to the Detroit Evening Report, a daily round-up of news that city residents need to know.

People gather around the Spirit of Detroit landmark to protest the use of ShotSpotter.

Detroit City Council voted to expand the controversial ShotSpotter system after listening to more testimonial on Tuesday.

The council voted 5-4 to approve the $7 million expense that will come out of the city’s general fund.

The technology places sensors around the city that listen for gunshots and report the location to police. Detroit police appealed to city council to approve the expansion of the system. Deputy Chief of Police Franklin Hayes made his case for ShotSpotter when he joined Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson.

Opponents say there’s been little evidence that ShotSpotter has made a difference in fighting crime in cities around the country. In recent days, officials in both Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio held meetings about the use or expansion of the technology in those cities.

The city council vote was delayed numerous times before being decided today.

Other headlines for October 11, 2022:

  • Dearborn school board shuts down meeting on LGBTQ books after protesters flood room
  • Detroit, community partners plan to plant 75,000 trees
  • GM launches “GM Energy” division to create clean energy products
  • Gas prices in Metro Detroit continue to rise

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Author

  • Jerome Vaughn
    Jerome Vaughn is News Director at 101.9 WDET. His interest in news reporting began when he was five years old, after his mom bought him a yellow Panasonic ball and chain radio.