Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Supports Continued Use of ShotSpotter Technology by Police Department

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is standing firm in her support of the city’s police department’s use of ShotSpotter technology, despite pushback from some of her progressive counterparts. Wu emphasized the importance of the technology in saving lives and addressing gun violence in the city, citing data that shows gun violence disproportionately affects minority communities where ShotSpotter is mainly used.

Criticism of ShotSpotter’s effectiveness and potential racial bias has been raised, with concerns that nearly 70% of alerts from the technology resulted in no evidence of gunfire. However, Mayor Wu and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox maintain that the technology has been instrumental in saving lives and providing faster police response in areas where gun violence is prevalent.

The city is set to renew its contract with SoundThinking, the company behind ShotSpotter, despite calls for a delay from some city councilors and members of the Congressional delegation. The ACLU report questioning the accuracy and effectiveness of ShotSpotter has prompted further scrutiny into the technology’s funding and potential violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Former Boston Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who sits on the SoundThinking board, defended ShotSpotter against claims of racial bias, stating that the technology is strategically placed in areas where shootings occur most frequently. He criticized politicians for politicizing the issue instead of focusing on saving lives.

As the debate over ShotSpotter continues, Mayor Wu remains steadfast in her support of the technology and its role in addressing gun violence in Boston.