ShotSpotter CEO defends technology

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May 06, 2024 View in browser   By Shia Kapos Presented by  Happy Monday, Illinois. Elected officials will be at the Field Museum today to announce a new exhibition, so jokes about dinosaurs in politics come to mind. TOP TALKER SoundThinking CEO Ralph Clark shows how the ShotSpotter technology works for police during an interview in Chicago. | Shia Kapos/POLITICO GUN TALK: Mayor Brandon Johnson reiterated on Friday that he’s sticking by his campaign pledge to cancel the ShotSpotter contract later this year. The mayor made his comments during a press conference about a Chicago Police officer’s shooting death, which was alerted to police first by ShotSpotter. The issue will come to a head during the May 22 City Council meeting when aldermen are likely to vote on an order for ShotSpotter to be used ward by ward and to mandate that CPD collect more data and be more transparent. The reason: Many South and West side aldermen say ShotSpotter is essential to targeting shooting incidents in their wards, which have higher incidents of crime than other parts of the city. Ralph Clark, the CEO of SoundThinking, which owns ShotSpotter, acknowledges the crime-fighting tool isn't the answer to solving crime outright but it’s a piece of an all-inclusive effort to combat it. We talked to Clark last week when he was in town to present a $10,000 check to the Chicago Police Foundation’s Ella French Scholarship fund. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity. Have you talked to the mayor about him wanting to stick to his campaign promise? “We’ve had some conversations. I understand the honor of that [campaign promise]. And I'm reminded of Barack Obama [who] campaigned on closing Guantanamo Bay when he was a candidate. Then he became president, and he probably had his first briefing, security briefing, and thought, ‘OK, I might be looking at this thing a little bit differently than when I made this campaign promise. I had a certain facts and a certain set of facts and assumptions I had campaigned for. It certainly sounded good. But now I'm elected my higher duty is not to a campaign promise, but to my sworn obligation to serve and protect.’” What about data showing ShotSpotter doesn’t change crime stats? “The whole reason for the company is really to kind of bridge the shortcomings that we know are out there with the traditional calls for service by 911. We know through experience that 80 to 90 percent of criminal gunfire goes unreported in some of our most vulnerable communities that have ongoing and persistent gunfire. That's a really big problem. People don’t call because they don't want to become snitches. Or someone assumes someone else is going to call. So, gun violence becomes normalized. That handicaps police.” The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office says ShotSpotter has little impact on cracking cases. “ShotSpotter isn’t responsible for prosecuting cases. District attorneys are. Our single line of focus is really helping cops save lives. That’s what it’s about. There are so many other factors that go into prosecutions and crime reduction. It’s a very complicated and messy thing that involves a lot of different pieces, and it’s hard to isolate any one thing. If we were going to be singularly responsible for increasing prosecution rates, and also reducing violent crime … we would be charging a lot more than $70,000 per square mile per year.” Can you explain how the technology works? “We have sensors that can detect, locate and alert on incidences of gunfire with a very, very rich alert and do it very quickly in a high-fidelity way. And when I say high fidelity, I mean that we're not going to be producing a lot of false positives, we're not going to miss very much. And we're going to have an exact location on which to direct first responders, and we're going to do all of this in typically 30 to 45 seconds.” What do you tell skeptics? “We understand that gun violence is a complicated issue that requires a comprehensive approach — and if you look at the definition of comprehensive, it's all-inclusive. It's not either or. It’s funny that they say, ‘We’ve got to take a comprehensive approach for that, and we're going to eliminate ShotSpotter.’ That’s the antonym for comprehensive. Comprehensive says, 'We support treatment not trauma. And we support summer jobs. And you should hold the police accountable. And you should do ShotSpotter.'” THE BUZZ CAMPUS PROTESTS: The pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to disrupt campus life across the country, including in Chicago, where police arrested 68 demonstrators during a protest at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. At DePaul University, counter-protesters reportedly tried to clash with protesters, but the pro-Palestinian activists used de-escalation tactics to keep peace. The Sun-Times has a report on both confrontations, via Sophie Sherry, Violet Miller and Isabel Funk. And at University of Chicago, tensions flared as the school president vowed to ‘intervene,’ by the Block Club’s Maxwell Evans Following the money: Your Playbook host looked at how some of Joe Biden’s biggest political donors have separately given to philanthropic groups that in turn have funded nonprofits that are protesting (guess who) … Biden. Here’s the story: Pro-Palestianian protesters are backed by a surprising source: Biden’s biggest donors If you are Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling, Playbook would like to hear from you. Email skapos@politico.com   A message from Capture Jobs Now: Illinois could miss its opportunity to establish climate leadership unless we act now on carbon capture technology. The Climate and Landowner Protection Act (HB569/SB3311) would help Illinois achieve its decarbonization targets, leverage federal funding and boost economic development. The bill is the collaborative result of stakeholders from labor, business and agriculture. Let’s capture jobs now with CCS.   WHERE'S JB At the Field Museum at 10 a.m. to celebrate a new acquisition — At the Thompson Center at 2:30 p.m. to give remarks at the building's redevelopment groundbreaking. WHERE's BRANDON At the Field Museum at 10 a.m. Where's Toni At the Field Museum at 10 a.m. Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or (heaven forbid) a complaint? Email  skapos@politico.com   THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists. Our newsroom is deeper, more experienced, and better sourced than any other—with teams embedded in the world’s most active legislative and regulatory power centers. From Brussels to Washington, New York to London, Sacramento to Paris, we bring subscribers inside the conversations that determine policy outcomes and the future of industries, providing insight that cannot be found anywhere else. Get the premier news and policy intelligence service, SUBSCRIBE TO POLITICO PRO TODAY.     BUSINESS OF POLITICS — More details on visits to Illinois by Biden and Harris: “A month after collecting about $2.5 million for his re-election bid, President Joe Biden returns to Chicago on Wednesday to scoop up at least another $1 million, while Vice President Kamala Harris hits the North Shore for a fundraiser May 16” (That’s a date change from what was reported last week.), by the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet. THE STATEWIDES — Fiscal forecasters say state revenues are on track, by Capitol News’ Jerry Nowicki — Illinois awards 35 new pot-shop licenses, by Crain’s John Pletz —Pritzker hints at Y-Block development near the governor’s mansion in Springfield, by the State Journal-Register’s Patrick M. Keck — THE NEW YORK TIMES TAKE: Here come a trillion cicadas. The Midwest is abuzz, by Julie Bosman with photos by Jamie Kelter Davis — Data driven: State Sen. Lakesia Collins and state Rep. Yolonda Morris, both Chicago Democrats, have introduced legislation to locate data centers in underserved areas. The goal: create jobs. The “Keep Illinois Data in Illinois” Tax Credit legislation is attached to SB 3939 and HB 5827.   A message from Capture Jobs Now:   CHICAGO — Airlines and City Hall reach agreement on O'Hare revamp: The deal gets “the massive but long-delayed expansion and renovation of O'Hare International Airport terminals back on track,” report Crain’s John Pletz Leigh Giangreco. — Optimism, doubt ahead of Johnson’s Treatment Not Trauma mental health plan: “The City Council tasked a working group with answering many of the toughest implementation questions: where to open facilities, what to ask for in the budget, how many people to hire and more. Beyond that, few changes have materialized. But the path forward should soon become clearer: The working group’s report outlining the plan’s future will be published later this month,” by the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan. — Chicago top cop Larry Snelling defends clearing officers with connections to extremist group, by WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos and the Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba — GREAT READ: Chicago wrestler Joe Rau’s improbable journey leads him to the Olympics — at age 33, by the Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair TAKING NAMES — State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe has been selected to receive the Jane Addams College of Social Work Pioneer Award. The Pioneer Award is the college's highest honor and is given to a graduate “who has made significant, standout or pioneering contributions to a community, state or nation consistent with the mission of the college,” according to a statement. — Kilwins owner Jacqueline Jackson is named Illinois Small Business Person of the Year by SBA, by the Sun-Times’ Amy Yee SPOTTED — The Haymarket Center fundraising gala drew a crowd Friday: Illinois Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services Grace Hou (one of the night’s honorees), HHS Region 5 Regional Director Michael Cabonargi, Haymarket Center Chair and former Illinois House Speaker Lee Daniels, DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick, DuPage County Judge Mia McPherson, Ignite Blue principals and founding partners Kelsey Nulph and Kaitlin Delaney and Cubs Director of Government Affairs and former state Rep. Heather Way Kitzes. Actor Andrew McCarthy headlined. CBS 2 has a report   DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT: The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE.     Reader Digest We asked when you rode a horse: Dennis Johnson: “Never have ridden a horse, but did have an adventure on a mule in Petra, Jordan.” Charles Keller: “On my uncle's New Mexico ranch in 1968 to bring the cattle in off the common-use area. That horse stood on my foot, thank goodness the ground was soft.” Kevin Lampe: “Boy Scout Summer Camp Napowan.” Dave Lundy: “As a kid, I spent summers on a farm in Minnesota where I’d ride a horse when I wasn’t bailing hay and shoveling poop.” Josh Mogerman: “I was leading a cattle drive from New Mexico to Colorado, where my friends and I found new meaning in life … no, wait, that was the movie ‘City Slickers.’ I haven’t ridden a horse since summer camp.” Dulana Reese-Campbell: “My great uncle is a cowboy and has several horses. Just about every other Sunday growing up, my dad would take me riding. I was almost a rodeo barrel racer.” Brent Zhorne: “The family and I did an overnight horseback trip into Custer State Park, S.D. Amazing scenery, wildlife and now I know why cowboys were bow legged! We were SORE!” NEXT QUESTION: Where were you when you heard gunfire? THE NATIONAL TAKE — Trump’s family steers clear of trial — even as he spotlights them, by POLITICO’s Adam Wren — Biden administration rolls out international cybersecurity plan, by POLITICO’s Maggie Miller — Blagojevich pops up at Biden’s donor retreat, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt and your Playbook host Transitions — Michelle Galdamez is now senior health policy adviser for Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly. She was a legislative assistant for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). It’s a full-circle moment for Galdamez. She once was a health fellow with Kelly’s office. — Don Ensign is the new president of the Indiana Dunes Tourism Board after the exit of Mitch Peters. Scott Tuft was elected vice president, via Shelley Jones for the Post-Tribune. — Marjorie Kennedy is now a partner at Jenner & Block. She’s been with the firm for five years. — Hannah Reed is communications and PR coordinator at Jenner & Block. She was a comms specialist at Loyola Medicine. ENGAGED — Chris Trant, head of U.S. agriculture at Hedgepoint Global Markets, recently proposed to Lyndsey Wajert, an associate at Vedder Price and an alum of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and International Center for Journalists. The couple met on Bumble shortly after she moved to Chicago in the fall of 2021, and they had their first date at a trivia night at Butch McGuires. He proposed on the beach in Oahu. Pic EVENTS — This morning: John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, will participate in a Zoom conversation with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute’s John Shaw in the “Understanding Our New World” series. Register here — Friday: Attorney Robert Clifford will receive the “Champion of Justice” award at the Chicago Bar Association annual fundraising gala at Union Station. Details here   A message from Capture Jobs Now: The Capture Jobs Now coalition is working to unlock three critical climate leadership opportunities by advancing carbon capture in the Climate and Landowner Protection Act (HB569/SB3311): Help Illinois achieve its decarbonization targets and build a clean energy economy by 2050.   Take advantage of $12 billion+ in available federal funding for states and companies seeking to use CCS technology to reduce their emissions. Sustain existing industries and enable new ones, including ethanol, cement and steel manufacturing, sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen. The time is now – let’s capture jobs and advance our clean energy economy.   TRIVIA FRIDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Jesse Magallon for correctly answering that the Bears were first known as the “Staley Bears” and were located in Decatur. TODAY’s QUESTION: What official Chicago Sister City is home to an airport named after the first aviator to perform a transpacific flight? HAPPY BIRTHDAY Political consultant Frank Calabrese, University of Chicago professor of law and ethics Martha Nussbaum and candymaker Susie Riskind Thompson. And belated greetings to philanthropist Jay Bergman, who celebrated Sunday. -30-   Follow us on Twitter Shia Kapos @shiakapos   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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