ShotSpotter will not solve gun violence. It will, however, deprive the city of badly needed funding to address the root causes of violence, and, as other cities have shown, increase the likelihood of violent encounters with police.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Detroit City Council will meet for the third time to decide whether to use $7 million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID-19 relief funding to expand the controversial gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter. Members of Detroit City Council have twice delayed a vote that, if passed, would install more gunshot detection devices throughout the city and expand the reach of Detroit’s already sprawling surveillance network...