Information is coming out that ShotSpotter may have violated the city lobbying code in an attempt to get a contract. The gunshot detection services company is dealing with this during the time a decisionmust be made for these services for the next year. The city requires private companies to register as a lobbyist once they have spent a minimum of either $1,000 or eight hours on lobbying within a quarter. City code defines lobbying as “attempting to influence the official action of City Officials.”
The company may also not worth the pricetag. MacArthur Justice Center found that in Chicago, 89% of ShotSpotter alerts turned up no gun-related crime. A Chicago Inspector General report reported the same outcome and finding that of 42,000 ShotSpotter calls police responded to, only 9% included a gun-related crime.
But, it’s the lobbying issue that is front and center. Portland’s City Auditor recently opened an investigation into ShotSpotter for violating city lobbying codes. The revelation that the gunshot detection technology company is being investigated comes four days after the submission period closed for proposals to run the city’s planned one-year pilot.
The investigation was confirmed but officials have not released much information. Lobbying rules are straightforward. There are a number of exceptions, including the time it takes to submit a bid, respond to information requests, and negotiate the terms of a contract. Officials belive that ShotSpotter’s activity over the past more than a year appears to fall outside the lobbying rules.
What is being looked at is for more than a year, representatives from ShotSpotter have worked closely with senior leaders at the Portland Police Bureau. Officers who are members of the civilian group overseeing the bureau’s gun violence team reportedly called the Focused Intervention Team to convince city officials to invest in the company’s technology.
A selection committee will recommend a gunshot detection system before the end of the month. If the city council approves, contract negotiations will happen the week of March 13 and installation can begin on April 1.
