DPD chief defends ShotSpotter use: It ‘tells the truth’

March 30, 2026

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison defended the ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology during a city council budget hearing, crediting it with enabling 256 arrests and potentially saving 114 shooting victims in the previous year by allowing officers to respond within two minutes without waiting for 911 calls. The technology currently covers over 23 square miles of Detroit, but its $7 million contract faces renewal by June 30 amid ongoing debates about its cost-effectiveness and transparency, with some residents opposing it while others request expansion to their neighborhoods. Bettison presented the technology as essential to Detroit's crime reduction success, including the city's lowest homicide rate since 1965 with only 165 deaths recorded.

Who is affected

Detroit residents living in the 23+ square miles covered by ShotSpotter
256 individuals arrested due to ShotSpotter notifications
114 shooting victims who received aid through ShotSpotter alerts
Families of crime victims who received case closure
Detroit residents in areas without ShotSpotter coverage who are requesting it
Detroit City Council members making budget decisions
Detroit Board of Police Commissioners scrutinizing the technology
Detroit Police Department officers (2,602 sworn officers)
Taura Brown and other residents opposing ShotSpotter
Detroiters affected by retail fraud and property crimes

What action is being taken

Detroit officers are responding to ShotSpotter alerts within two minutes
The Police Department is using ShotSpotter across over 23 square miles of the city
Chief Bettison is presenting budget information and effectiveness data to City Council
The department is evaluating and expanding its mental health co-response unit
The department is ramping up focus on retail fraud and property crimes
Recruitment teams are visiting churches, colleges, high schools, and partner groups to recruit Detroit residents

Why it matters

This matters because it addresses a critical public safety debate about balancing technological solutions with community concerns over transparency, cost, and effectiveness. The ShotSpotter technology has demonstrably contributed to Detroit's historic crime reduction, including the lowest homicide rate in 60 years, while enabling rapid emergency response to shooting victims who might otherwise go undetected when witnesses don't call 911. However, the $7 million investment faces legitimate scrutiny regarding its value and accountability to residents, making the upcoming contract decision significant for both the city's budget priorities and its approach to community policing. The outcome will affect how Detroit allocates scarce public resources and whether it continues relying on surveillance technology despite some residents' transparency concerns.

What's next

The ShotSpotter contract expires June 30, requiring a renewal decision
The department will move to ensure 24/7 coverage for the mental health co-response unit
Detroit City Council will consider Mayor Mary Sheffield's proposed $467 million police budget for fiscal year 2026-27
The department will increase focus on retail fraud and property crimes this year
Continued recruitment efforts targeting Detroit residents

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com