Paris council approves one-year ShotSpotter extension after public debate over cost and privacy

The Paris City Council voted 5–0 on June 29 to approve a one-year extension of the city’s agreement with the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection system, authorizing staff to execute Amendment No. 4 to the existing contract.

The decision followed a presentation from Assistant City Manager Mr. Raina, who told the council the system — installed in 2022 and later expanded to six square miles — had produced a small number of documented successes, including weapons recoveries and an incident staff said helped save a life. Raina presented three renewal options: a one-year extension at about $399,000, a two-year option at roughly $798,000, and a three-year commitment near $1.2 million, with discounted rates for the first two square miles of coverage.

The contract drew sharply divided public comment. Several residents said the system is an expensive surveillance technology that has produced only a handful of useful alerts locally. "For a program that cost so much to the city, I believe it should be doing a lot more," said Joshua Aila, a Paris resident, arguing the city should instead invest in youth outreach and other prevention programs. Multiple speakers cited national studies and local counts asserting that many ShotSpotter alerts do not lead to confirmed gun-crime findings.

Council members pressed operational questions to sheriff’s personnel and staff. Captain Lamb explained that ShotSpotter detections are filtered at a call center before dispatch and said human reviewers separate fireworks from gunfire when the software is uncertain. Lamb and staff said many alerts are not reported by citizens and that the system has generated responses in cases where no 911 call was placed. "If it wasn't for ShotSpotter, that person would be dead," Mayor Prom Corona said when describing an earlier incident the city said the system helped detect.

Several council members acknowledged both concerns and benefits. Some councilmembers favored a shorter renewal to preserve flexibility and to allow time for more data collection; Council member Rab and Mayor Prom Corona cited past instances in which ShotSpotter-assisted responses led to arrests or saved lives. Councilwoman Vjo asked staff to provide confirmation-rate statistics; staff said they would follow up with more precise verification of the percentage of alerts confirmed as gunfire.

Ultimately Mayor Prom Corona moved and Council member Nava seconded approval of a one-year extension; the roll-call vote was yes from Council members Vjo, Nava, Prom Corona, Rab and Mayor Vargas.

The council did not adopt a multi-year contract. Staff said the one-year extension will allow time to collect and review additional operational data, provide follow-up statistics requested during the meeting, and evaluate whether alternative or complementary public-safety investments should be prioritized.