In the scheme of things, $1 million among $1.6 billion in spending line items is a drop in the bucket. But the debate over Seattle’s possible implementation of gunfire detection technology has become a flashpoint in the city’s attempts to address a surge in gun violence.

The African American Advisory Council, which advises the Seattle Police Department about crime prevention and public safety concerns, held a meeting this week to discuss the benefits of the ShotSpotter technology.

ShotSpotter uses acoustic sensors to detect and locate gunshots through triangulation. The goal of the tech, which has been around for 25 years and a subject in debate in Seattle for over a decade, is to, ostensibly, improve police response times to incidents of gun violence.

“We have put out so much money to all of these different organizations–millions of dollars for gun violence prevention,” said Victoria Beach, chair of the council, who also said that nothing is being done while Black children are dying. “I’m tired of sitting and talking to mothers who weep.”

But critics have questioned opening a beachhead to such surveillance technology on city streets. And cities like San Antonio and Charlotte illustrate a more direct problem — the technology doesn’t seem to work.

Wednesday’s meeting of the SPD-backed community group usually dedicated to neighborhood crimes and public safety around the Central District and South Seattle comes as the Seattle City Council is weighing some 100 amendments to finalize Mayor Bruce Harrell’s 2023 budget proposal with its steps back on Seattle reforms including spending to create a larger SPD and a controversial new plan for how to redirecting funding from the city’s big business tax from COVID-19 recovery, housing, and the Green New Deal to patching up the city’s general fund. Harrell’s plans also call for nearly $40 million for “clean city, trash mitigation, encampment resolution, and RV remediation initiatives.” The City Council must pull off the balancing act in the face of a newly predicted greater downturn in tax revenue that will make additions a battle and cuts more likely.

In the middle of this, the debate over ShotSpotter has reemerged.

As a member of the city council, Harrell advocated for a program to pilot use of acoustic gunfire detection technology in the Central District. In 2016, federal grants were lined up to bring a system online. Now Mayor Harrell could finally get his wish with $1 million earmarked to deploy the Shotspotter system in Rainier Beach.

Support from groups like the African American Advisory Council, created in 1996 as one of ten councils that works with SPD born out of what the department said was a need to hear directly from communities who are underrepresented, could be key.

Deputy Mayor Greg Wong was in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting on behalf of the mayor to listen to community input. Wong said the mayor’s budget proposal includes funding for a pilot of the technology but that the spending wouldn’t necessarily be committed to that company.

The city council’s proposed budget amendment package will be announced next week.

“Over 80% of gunfire has not been reported to the police in the highest crime areas,” said Gerard Tate, Community Impact and Engagement Director for ShotSpotter. “Children and families are still being traumatized by the sounds of gunfire.”

The attendees emphasized the impact of trauma, which can cause sleep disruption; concentration issues and social disruption. One attendee said she desires more accountability for the millions of dollars that have been invested into gun violence prevention, because the money provided to organizations is not trickling down to the community and there is a lack of financial transparency.

“We need that data. Where’d that money go?” she asked.

Another in attendance asked, “How many of these do we need in Seattle to be impactful?”

Four members of the ShotSpotter team were attending via video teleconferencing on a laptop held up by SPD’s Community Outreach Coordinator Henry Liu for all to see. The representatives said that data is captured from current 911 calls where shootings occurred on reported incidents, and then they conduct a hotspot analysis which is generally in square mile increments.

“Can sensors tell the type of gun based on acoustics?” asked one attendee.

While the sensors cannot detect the specific gun, it can tell if there are multiple shooters and sends police officers to “dots” on maps to where exactly the guns are fired, company officials said Wednesday. Loud noises like fireworks can be picked up by the sensors, but an algorithm is used to filter those sounds out, according to ShotSpotter, who also stated that the verification of gun fire is done in under one minute.

After being asked about disadvantages of the technology, Tate said that best practices have to be followed in order for it to work.

“We’re just a tool, again,” said Tate. “A very active tool.”

Some in the audience wanted to know if their privacy was at risk from the sensors picking up activities on their streets. Tate acknowledged how there is mistrust between local police departments due to the country’s history of racism which may bring up concerns about ways in which departments can use the technology. He also mentioned how the company works directly with police departments to make sure they’re using ShotSpotter correctly under company guidelines. The company offers in person and telephonic training to officers, or “customers,” he said.

In addition to the political tussle over the 2023 budget, Seattle is also facing a surge in gun violence with a major rise in reported shots fired that has continued into 2022 (PDF).

The officials Wednesday offered to come to Seattle to have a more personalized conversation and provide a demo, but there isn’t time for that right now. Attendees Wednesday said they would reaching out to the city council to share thoughts on the technology. Two public comment periods on the Mayor’s proposed budget will take place on November 8 at 9:30 AM and November 15 at 5:00 PM but several individuals in the room encouraged writing to the council directly.

“Let us dream a big dream. We’ve known a dreamer before. He said he had a dream, but he was more than a dreamer–he was a doer,” said Reverend Harriet Walden of Mothers For Police Accountability. “Just think about the little children.”

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