Oakland renews controversial gunshot detection system

After several hours of debate, the Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to renew its contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection technology system.

The council renewed the $2.5 million contract for one year to start, instead of three, because of concerns about a lack of data and the city’s strained budget. But if the City Council does not make changes to the contract next year, it will automatically renew for the full three years. 

It was approved by a 7-1 vote, with Councilmember Janani Ramachandran voting against it.

“Right now, in the very desperate budget times that we’re in, I am skeptical about OPD’s ability to use ShotSpotter in an effective and meaningful way when we have that lack of staff capacity,” Ramachandran said. 

ShotSpotter technology uses acoustic sensors to detect gunshots and alert the Oakland Police Department within 60 seconds of the location and details of the gunfire. Nearly 160 cities nationwide use the program. But not everyone is convinced ShotSpotter helps Oakland reduce or prevent gun violence.

“This is a purely emotional argument. Anytime you have police surveillance, there is a trade-off on civil liberties,” said Charlotte Timisch, from Showing Up for Racial Justice Bay Area. “Is this worth it? Or is there a private surveillance company coming to our city and shaking us down with fear about gun violence and asking for all this money?”

Skeptical of data

Frederick Shavies, deputy chief at the Oakland Police Department, told the City Council that the technology is an important tool in response and investigations. The department relies on ShotSpotter data to track down casings and find victims of gun violence. 

ShotSpotters retains over 95% of customers or cities that have contracts, said Larry Jackson, senior vice president of customer success at SoundThinking, the company that operates ShotSpotter. He said it also has a 97% accuracy rate nationally — and 99% in Oakland, numbers that some dispute, as they are self-reported.

Brian Hofer, chair of Oakland’s Privacy Advisory Commission, which advises the city on surveillance technology, said SoundThinking only presents data that it collects itself and doesn’t break down, which does not allow for vetting. Because of that, he said, the city can’t determine whether its investment is paying off. Hofer also criticized the company for failing to provide information on why 24 cities, including Chicago and San Diego, have not renewed their contracts.

“Two to three officers of our 35 on patrol abandon other calls, including other Priority 1s, to go chase something where OPD admits we don’t find anything of value,” Hofer said.

Oakland has one of the worst police response times in the state, Ramachandran said, taking nearly an hour to respond to some Priority 1 calls, which are calls regarding an immediate threat to life.  

Some residents spoke in favor of renewing the contract during public comment. 

Ersie Joyner, a retired Oakland police captain, said it saved his life. 

“I heard people say what is a life worth?” Joyner said. “When I laid there at 17th and Castro with 22 bullet holes in me, I wasn’t thinking about how much ShotSpotter cost. I was grateful officers showed up and saved my life. No one called 911 for me.” 

Mayor Thao rallies against recall, with help from a former Oakland mayor and other supporters