Mayor Brandon Johnson's deal to keep ShotSpotter technology in Chicago, costing the city millions, has come under fire for potentially being invalid, as it bypasses required City Council approval. The former Inspector General Joseph Ferguson, now president of the Civic Federation, voiced concerns to the Sun-Times stating that the City Council "probably should be vetting and approving this thing," signaling a rough path ahead for the no-bid contract extension.
Johnson's office, in stark contrast, announced earlier a commitment to end the contentious ShotSpotter contract, a fulfillment of a major campaign promise, as reported by WTTW News. Johnson’s administration has confirmed that after September 22, the city plans to cease the use of the gunshot detection system, and instead, will "deploy its resources on the most effective strategies" that deliver tangible improvements in combatting urban violence. Amidst this change, the actual cost of continued ShotSpotter services until the designated end date remains unspecified, leaving questions about the financial implications for the city unanswered.
Heading into legal uncertainties, the ShotSpotter deal seemingly treads on thin ice with city ordinances and the municipal procurement process. With an excess payment of over $8.6 million, according to disclosures, the city would be parting with funds at a rate beyond what is permitted under existing agreements. The Department of Procurement Services defended the agreement, saying they have "authority pursuant to State law to award contracts that are not adaptive to competitive bidding," spokesperson Ryan Gage explained to the Sun-Times.
The ShotSpotter extension unveiled this controversy would not have spiraled out of control, according to Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, if the matter had been approached with "more diligent" handling. Hopkins has requested legal justification for using the reference contract as the basis for Johnson's no-bid contract extension, alluding to procedural discrepancies that might be at play. "There's a lot about this process that simply can’t be defended," Hopkins told the Sun-Times, casting a shadow of doubt on the administration's urgency in this issue.
Whether the ShotSpotter service will indeed see its demise in Chicago post-convention, or if the newly-revealed agreement's legality will stand, remains to be seen. As public safety hangs in the balance, and the city's leadership finds itself navigating the treacherous divides of politics and policy, the people of Chicago look on with wary eyes.
