Brandon Johnson Drops Veto Plan on ShotSpotter Ordinance, as Debate Over Gunshot Tech Intensifies

Wed. morning deadline for Chicago Mayor to veto city council ordinance to continue ShotSpotter program passes, as Johnson believes measure isn't legally enforceable

ShotSpotter gunshot detection technologyPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO — The contentious battle over Chicago's use of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, took another turn this week as Mayor Brandon Johnson decided to abandon his planned veto of an ordinance that would keep the system in place. The ongoing political struggle surrounding the controversial technology has captivated City Hall, revealing deep divisions over how best to tackle gun violence in the city.

Johnson had initially vowed to veto a City Council ordinance aimed at continuing ShotSpotter, which he had scrapped just weeks earlier. The ordinance passed with a significant majority—33 votes to 14—in the Council, leaving Johnson facing a potential override of his veto. However, as the Wednesday morning deadline to act approached, the mayor backed down. His office indicated that Johnson decided against the veto because his administration deemed the ordinance legally unenforceable.

The reversal spares Johnson from what could have been a politically embarrassing defeat, but it has done little to quell the escalating debate over how Chicago should use—or replace—gunshot detection technology.

At the core of this dispute is the City Council's attempt to limit Johnson’s control over city contracts. The ordinance passed in September sought to take the decision-making power over the ShotSpotter contract away from the mayor. Johnson has repeatedly argued that only he has the authority to manage city contracts, and that the Council’s actions are a violation of that power.

Aldermen who support ShotSpotter, however, are not backing down. Some, like South Side Alderman Jeanette Taylor, 20th Ward, had missed the September vote but made it clear they intended to support the ordinance if a veto override was needed. Taylor’s expected vote would have provided the 34th vote required to override Johnson’s veto, handing him an unprecedented defeat.

Taylor’s support for the system stems from her concerns about public safety. She pointed to a recent incident in the East Side neighborhood where a woman was fatally shot, and her body wasn’t discovered until the next morning. Taylor believes that ShotSpotter could have prompted a faster police response in that case.

“We have nothing. How do we have a woman who was there for nine hours and nobody came? There has to be something in place, and they have had plenty of time to do it,” Taylor said.

ShotSpotter, an acoustic detection system designed to alert police to the sound of gunfire, has long been the subject of debate in Chicago and other cities. Supporters argue that the system helps law enforcement respond more quickly to shootings, potentially saving lives. Detractors, however, question its effectiveness and worry that it contributes to over-policing in neighborhoods that are already heavily monitored.

Earlier this year, Johnson followed through on a campaign promise by canceling Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter. The decision was hailed by critics of the system, but it sparked outrage among those who believe that gunshot detection technology is essential for public safety in Chicago’s most violent areas.

In an effort to appease both sides, Johnson’s administration announced plans to explore alternative technologies. Just hours before pulling the plug on ShotSpotter, the administration said it was beginning a procurement process to find a replacement system. This move offered some hope to aldermen who support the use of acoustic gunshot detection, even if they’re open to using a system other than ShotSpotter.

The political ramifications of Johnson’s actions continue to reverberate through City Hall. Alderman Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward, one of the leading proponents of ShotSpotter, warned that the fight is far from over. Hopkins said he and other supporters of the system are considering legal action if the mayor does not enforce the September ordinance.

“The ball is in the mayor’s court. We will see what he does and we will respond to it,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins and other aldermen have called on Johnson to move quickly to install some form of gunshot detection software, whether it’s ShotSpotter or an alternative. Their main concern is that, without such technology, the police are left without a critical tool in their efforts to respond to gun violence.

Aldermen like Lamont Robinson, 4th Ward, and Walter Burnett, 27th Ward, have expressed similar concerns. While both were absent for the September vote, they have supported ShotSpotter in the past. Still, they indicated that they would back the mayor if he vetoed the ordinance, as they are hopeful that Johnson will soon deliver on his promise to find a replacement for ShotSpotter.

Robinson, whose ward includes parts of the South Side, said he believes that a better system than ShotSpotter can be found, and he expressed optimism about the direction Johnson’s administration is heading in its search for new technology.

“Instead of focusing on finding better technology, we’re wasting our time on divisive proposals that undermine the strong collaboration with the Chicago Police Department,” Robinson said.

Robinson added that he thinks looking for an alternative is moving in a "better direction."

Despite the mayor’s assurances that a replacement is on the horizon, there is still no clear timeline for when a new system might be implemented. Johnson’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Garien Gatewood, has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the ongoing search for alternatives, declining to offer any concrete details about when interim technology might be deployed.

Ald. Walter Burnett, who is closely aligned with the mayor, said he has faith that Johnson will come through.

Burnett said, “[The mayor] told me that there are better products out there. He gave me the indication that he is considering something else, so I’d like to give him the opportunity to do that.”

While the debate over ShotSpotter rages on, many in Chicago are growing weary of the political bickering and are eager to see concrete action on public safety. Anthony Driver Jr., president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, has voiced his frustration with the lack of progress. He believes the city has been fighting over this issue for far too long and the focus should be on making Chicago safer.

Driver pointed to the tragic case of Sierra Evans, a 19-year-old woman whose body was discovered near an East Side fence hours after she was shot. Evans’ death, Driver said, highlights the urgent need for a functioning gunshot detection system.

“I’m very concerned about the current state that we’re in. I’m very concerned about people who need help not getting it,” Driver said. ”You can’t wing it. It’s life or death.”

As the fight over ShotSpotter enters its next phase, the stakes remain high. Johnson’s decision to withdraw his veto may have spared him a political defeat, but it has not resolved the underlying issues at play. The mayor now faces the challenge of delivering on his promise to find a better solution while navigating the deep divisions within the City Council.

For now, the infrastructure for ShotSpotter remains in place across many neighborhoods on the West and South Sides. But as questions about the system’s reliability continue to grow—fueled by a recent investigation that found it may have missed 20% of reported shootings over the past two years—pressure is mounting on Johnson to find an alternative that works.