Is ShotSpotter Racist? An Honest Conversation with SoundThinking CEO Ralph Clark

Purpose and Operation

Rafael Mangual and SoundThinking CEO Ralph Clark discussed ShotSpotter, the company’s acoustic gunshot-detection system. Clark said the system aims to identify shootings that go unreported. He estimated that 80–90% of criminal shootings in some vulnerable communities are not reported to police, citing fear of retaliation, uncertainty about what people heard, and a belief that no one will respond.

How the System Works

Clark described sensors installed high above street level, typically 25–30 per square mile. When multiple sensors detect a likely gunshot, software analyzes the sound and location, followed by human review. He said alerts generally go out within 30–45 seconds, while acknowledging that the system can make mistakes or miss shots.

Race, Policing, and Community Safety

Mangual raised concerns that alerts could lead to more policing in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods and worsen existing inequalities. Clark argued that the debate should also consider victims and residents who live with gunfire but may not receive help if nobody calls 911.

They also discussed how inconsistent responses could affect trust in public institutions. Clark said critics often overlook the views of people living in affected neighborhoods, whom he described as wanting both public safety and criminal justice.

Effects Beyond Immediate Victims

The speakers argued that gun violence can affect children and entire neighborhoods, not only people who are directly shot. Mangual cited research linking nearby shootings to worse standardized-test performance among schoolchildren. Clark described seeing children treat fatal shootings as routine and suggested that repeated exposure to violence can affect young people’s expectations and long-term outlook.

Accuracy and Evidence

Mangual recounted a Chicago patrol where an alert, a witness, and signs of a fight supported the likelihood of a shooting, even though officers found no shell casings. They argued that the absence of recovered casings does not, by itself, establish that no shots were fired.

Clark said the system provides audio and location data. He acknowledged that it is not infallible and said its evidence has been accepted in multiple state and federal courts. He also cited practical reasons casings may not be found, including weather, limited search time, revolvers, and people collecting evidence.

Response Times and the Case for Investment

Mangual cited research by University of Chicago researcher Jens Ludwig that found ShotSpotter reduced medical response times by about 90 seconds on average in a Chicago study. He and Clark discussed the potential value of faster medical aid, estimating that preventing even a small number of deaths could justify the system’s cost. They also noted possible benefits to residents’ sense that gun violence is being taken seriously.

These benefits were presented as arguments in favor of the technology, not as a settled assessment of its overall impact.

Controversies and Local Decisions

The speakers noted that Chicago had stopped using ShotSpotter and was considering proposals from multiple technology companies. Mangual cited reports of people being shot in areas without alerts or a timely response. Clark said delayed or mishandled dispatch can undermine the purpose of detection technology.

They also discussed Cambridge’s suspension of the system and a subsequent fatal shooting in its coverage area, while acknowledging that it is impossible to know whether an alert would have changed the outcome.

Police Response and the Adam Toledo Case

They discussed the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo after a ShotSpotter alert. Clark argued that the system had detected and reported a real shooting and that the tragic outcome was not caused by the technology. Mangual agreed that the incident was a tragedy but questioned whether it was an appropriate example of ShotSpotter causing harmful police responses. They called for evidence about whether alerts themselves lead to unnecessary escalation.

Possible Improvements and Future Products

The speakers discussed drones as a way to quickly assess alerts when officers cannot be dispatched immediately. Clark said SoundThinking could potentially offer drone operations through its existing infrastructure, providing visual confirmation and helping locate evidence.

He also described the company’s work in gun detection for commercial settings, license-plate recognition, police data-search tools, and natural-language queries of ShotSpotter data. Clark said the company also has a community-engagement team focused on building cooperation between residents and police.

Presenters and Contributors

• Rafael Mangual: Host
• Ralph Clark: Guest, SoundThinking CEO