Police Speed Ups After Dropping ShotSpotter, City Hopes for New Tech

The mayor says Chicago police are quicker without the gun‑shot detector he removed last year, citing a study that shows response times improved by more than four minutes on average. He calls critics’ worries “fear‑mongering” and says the tech had been a drain on resources. The city is still looking for a replacement, with nine companies already in the running. A deputy mayor says the procurement will take time, but council members are pushing for a faster decision.An alderman accused the mayor of not acting fast enough, while another called for a new curfew power to stop teen gatherings that ended in violence. The mayor opposes the curfew idea, arguing it would be a step back from evidence‑based solutions. The city’s youth summer job program and neighborhood events are highlighted as key factors in the drop of homicides last year. The mayor also stresses that any policy must show real results before it is adopted.