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Peoria council renews ShotSpotter contract; resident urges crackdown on illegal fireworks
Summary
Council approved a three‑year renewal of ShotSpotter Flex at $316,035 per year, with the police chief and a company representative describing benefits. During public comment a West Bluff resident urged stronger enforcement of illegal fireworks that she said have caused property damage and harmed neighbors with PTSD.
The Peoria City Council unanimously approved a three‑year renewal with ShotSpotter Inc. for ShotSpotter Flex, a gunfire‑detection and alerting service, at a recommended cost of $316,035 per year.
Police Chief Brad Dickson, who requested the renewal, said the city has used the acoustic technology since 2013 and that the system currently covers roughly six square miles of the city. He told council ShotSpotter provides officers earlier situational awareness and helps locate shell casings and other evidence: "the officers get there faster... the ShotSpotter alerts come in faster than they are dispatched," he said, adding that Peoria offers a public data transparency page that tracks incidents by year.
Kevin Johnson, a ShotSpotter representative and former Chicago deputy chief, praised Peoria’s use of the system and said it helps save lives and build cases. Council members asked how events such as July Fourth affect detection; staff said the system is adjusted during known high‑fireworks periods.
During the citizens’ opportunity period, resident Molly Cadigan of the West Bluff described repeated illegal fireworks activity in her neighborhood, including property damage and a five‑year‑old garage fire. Cadigan said the noise worsened PTSD among veterans and frightened rescued animals; she described barricades made with PVC pipe in intersections that blocked vehicle travel and called on the council to take action to stop illegal fireworks. The council did not record an immediate enforcement action in response to the comment during the meeting.
