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Fayetteville council renews ShotSpotter contract after heated public comments; asks for expanded data reporting
Summary
After more than an hour of public comment and a contentious council debate, Fayetteville City Council voted 8–2 on Sept. 8 to approve continuing the city’s contract with ShotSpotter; the council also approved a separate request for the city manager to add data points recommended in an independent evaluation.
Fayetteville City Council voted 8–2 on Sept. 8 to continue the city’s ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot-detection contract after a lengthy public forum and follow-up council discussion, and separately approved a motion asking city staff to incorporate additional data points recommended by an external evaluation.
The decision came after residents, advocacy groups and council members aired sharply divergent views on whether the technology improves public safety or improperly directs police resources. "The overwhelming majority of people we have talked to agree that they haven't seen ShotSpotter bring about any real change," said Kristen Starks, a Fayetteville resident, nurse and community organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, during the public forum.
The vote to approve the item (listed on the agenda as 8.B.4) followed a motion by Council Member Thompson, seconded by Council Member Harrah,…
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