HOUSTON – A pricey safety initiative that uses technology to detect gunfire and dispatch police to the location, could soon be scrapped by the city.
Mayor John Whitmire says the multi-million dollar ShotSpotter program isn’t worth the money.
“I think we need to keep that program,” said a Sunnyside resident who doesn’t want to be identified.
The City of Houston’s $3.5 million tax payer funded ShotSpotter program which was initiated in 2021, will likely be ending before the end of it’s 5-year contract. Mayor John Whitmire doesn’t believe it’s worth it.
“I think it’s a gimmick. A feel good program. Most law enforcement officers do not support ShotSpotter. I don’t support it,” said Mayor John Whitmire.
Meanwhile, at a recent budget meeting, acting Houston Police Chief, Larry Satterwhite says he has seen benefits from the program.
“And we’ve responded, and we’ve found individuals, I think the number is three who were shot and injured, and we were able to get them some type of service because of that help,” Satterwhite said.
Back in 2021, KPRC 2 reported ShotSpotter detecting gunfire at Dawson and Ashville in Sunnyside. It resulted in three people being taken into custody and a shooting victim taken to the hospital. The woman we spoke to in the area says she’s seen it work in another instance.
“It saved one life definitely. Because of that, the laws were brought to that house because of that,” she said.
Satterwhite says the program which costs the city $700,000 a year, isn’t the only option.
“I am still yet to tell you that it is doing everything that we want it to do. It is a very expensive program, and it covered a very small area and there are other technologies that are similar that might be more affordable,” Satterwhite said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Whitmire said he wants to invest the money that would be saved in recruiting more police officers. He’s looking into how to end the contract early that’s up for renewal in December.
