Mayor Johnson announces Chicago will cancel ShotSpotter deal designed to combat crime

The City of Chicago will not be renewing its contract with gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter after this summer, city officials announced Tuesday.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office released a statement Tuesday morning, saying its multi-million-dollar contract with SoundThinking, which owns the ShotSpotter technology, will be extended through Sept. 22, but end after that.

The decision comes as the city was facing a Friday deadline for its $49 million contract with ShotSpotter, which operates a network of acoustic sensors to alert police of gunfire.

"Moving forward, the City of Chicago will deploy its resources on the most effective strategies and tactics proven to accelerate the current downward trend in violent crime," the city's statement read. "Doing this work, in consultation with community, violence prevention organizations and law enforcement, provides a pathway to a better, stronger, safer Chicago for all."