On Sept. 8, the Fayetteville City Council voted 8-2 to extend the controversial ShotSpotter technology utilized by the Fayetteville Police Department for another year for $220,000.
Councilmembers Mario Benavente and Deno Hondros stood firm in their opposition, casting their votes against the measure.
Fayetteville's new police chief, Roberto Bryan, supports the use of ShotSpotter technology. Chief Bryan, an African American, provides a contrasting perspective on the somewhat controversial use of this technology in African American communities.
African American concerns center around civil liberties, the potential for over-policing, and the perception that ShotSpotter creates a false sense of security. Critics argue that the technology offers poor returns on investment, pointing to low rates of arrests and gun recoveries. On the other hand, supporters assert that it can enable a rapid response to gunfire incidents.
ShotSpotter claims a high accuracy rate of around 97%. However, critics and independent research indicate that the system often fails to produce evidence of gun-related crimes. A study conducted in Chicago revealed that 89% of the deployments did not yield any evidence of such crimes.
Similarly, a study in New York showed a success rate ranging from only 8% to 20% during specific periods. Additionally, an independent study conducted in Fayetteville by the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law has also raised questions about the effectiveness of this technology.
Gun violence in America has reached alarming levels, posing a serious threat to our communities and way of life. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a university campus in Utah, along with a shooting at a high school in Colorado—which resulted in the shooter's death from self-inflicted wounds, two student deaths, and three others injured, both incidents on the same day—highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the country.
Many African Americans oppose ShotSpotter technology, and while it may contribute more to the problem than to the solution, it is essential to acknowledge the stark reality: the risk of homicide is significantly higher in the Black community compared to the white community. Black Americans are more than 12 times more likely to die from gun homicides than white Americans.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for African American males aged 15 to 34, and Fayetteville joins other major cities with high homicide rates. The shooters and victims typically share the same racial background. At some point, we all hope this cycle of violence comes to an end. Elected leaders and law enforcement officials are understandably seeking answers to the situation. The challenges they face are significant.
They need to set both immediate and future goals to drive success and ensure progress.
Could the $220,000 have had a more meaningful impact if allocated differently?
Perhaps, but Fayetteville needs to significantly increase its crime prevention budget for genuine effectiveness. Efforts to solve our gun violence problem with ShotSpotter are further dividing those who need help and those sworn to assist them.
This isn't a solution that benefits everyone; it's a scenario where one side wins while the other loses.