Cambridge Council Votes To End ShotSpotter Gunshot-Detection Contract
The Cambridge City Council voted to terminate its contract with gunshot-detection firm ShotSpotter on Monday, May 18, 2026, ordering the system removed and discontinued.[1]
The council vote was 5 in favor, 2 opposed and 2 present, and it directs the city manager and police department to end ShotSpotter within 90 days and remove devices around Cambridge.[1] Police leaders told the council the system had detected 11 gunfire incidents that did not generate 911 calls and urged keeping the technology.[1]
Opponents argued the technology produced false positives and risked over-policing, and they raised concerns about alleged links between operator SoundThinking and federal immigration-enforcement databases.[1]
City officials must now carry out the council's directive and oversee the system's shutdown and equipment removal within the 90-day window set by the vote.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Cambridge City Council voted to terminate its contract with ShotSpotter.
- The decision requires the city manager and police department to discontinue ShotSpotter within 90 days and remove devices around Cambridge.
- The vote was 5 in favor of ending the contract, 2 opposed and 2 present, according to Boston.com.
- Police leaders supported keeping ShotSpotter and cited 11 gunfire incidents detected by the system that did not generate 911 calls.
- Critics objected to false positives, over-policing concerns and alleged data links between operator SoundThinking and federal immigration enforcement databases.
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