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Kankakee council renews ShotSpotter subscription for $49,500; police say it aids response
Summary
Council approved a one-year renewal of the ShotSpotter subscription at $49,500, with police and some council members saying the system helps locate shootings and recover shell casings; funding will move from ARPA to capital pending grant reimbursements.
The Kankakee City Council approved a one-year renewal of the ShotSpotter Respond subscription at a cost of $49,500 for the period Nov. 9, 2025 through Nov. 8, 2026.
Chief Kidwell told the council the amount is unchanged from prior years and that the department values the technology. "I would definitely say it saved lives," Chief Kidwell said, adding that the system helps get officers on scene quickly. He also said the department "usually recover[s] 90 to 100% of the shell casings" after alerts, a statistic he tied to investigative benefits when combined with ballistic identification tools.
The mayor and council members said the city has paid for similar technology with ARPA funds in the past; moving forward, staff said the cost will be covered from capital until reimbursement from a $200,000 grant from Senator Joyce is received. The council adopted the resolution by roll call (11 ayes, 0 nays).
Why it matters: ShotSpotter is a recurring public-safety contract that the police department and some council members argue improves response and investigations. The renewal continues the city’s existing approach to audible gunfire detection technology and associated analytics.
Next steps: Staff will place the renewal under the capital budget with anticipated grant reimbursement as described.
