Durham won't renew ShotSpotter contract following city council vote

Controversial gunfire detection technology will go offline in Durham soon, but one local leader in favor of it says he's not done fighting.

Durham City Council voted 4-to-2 not to extend the ShotSpotter contract for three months past the pilot year.

While City Council voted not to extend the contract, it doesn't mean the technology is done in the City forever. A study by the Wilson Center on its effectiveness is underway - and at least one Council member tells me he will continue to push for it.

Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton has been in favor of ShotSpotter technology since the start.

"This is what we call in leadership a really bad decision," Middleton said.

He was on the losing side of last night's vote not to extend the City's contract with the company.

"We have to wrap our minds around the proposition that some our residents may die who did not have to die," Middleton said.

In one year in the three square miles covered by the technology, Durham Police recovered 21 guns, made 23 arrests, and responded to 48 gunshot wounds.

In 73% of the alerts, there was no corresponding 911 call.

The median officer response time was 5 minutes and 11 seconds, significantly faster than the city-wide average last reported at 6 minutes and 42 seconds.

The Durham Fraternal Order of Police joined Middleton in his support.

President Robert Gaddy wrote: "We share his sentiment in questioning how such a timely and technologically advanced approach to addressing gun-related incidents could be perceived as a threat to our democracy."

Those against the technology raise issues of privacy, effectiveness, and concern over police response.

Some spoke at today's City Council work session.

"I want to thank council members Freeman, Rist, Caballero, and Baker for their decision to vote against the ShotSpotter program last night," one person said. "Thank you for hearing us. Thank you for listening to the inconclusive data."

At Tuesday's work session, City Council also heard a report from the Community Safety and Wellness Task Force after two years of work.

That group recommends against ShotSpotter.