Denver police letting ShotSpotter contract expire after more than a decade of gunshot detection

The Denver Police Department is letting its contract with ShotSpotter technology expire at the end of 2026, potentially ending more than a decade of automated gunshot detection in the city. The system uses sensors mounted on utility poles to listen for gunfire and alert Denver's 911 dispatch center. DPD said it is evaluating whether a new vendor can provide greater public safety benefits, and the decision comes amid nationwide scrutiny over police surveillance technology. Matt Van Sistine, Board Chair of the Ballpark Collective RNO, said he wants to understand what is driving the move, especially given recent violence in the area. "Why are they letting the contract run out?" Van Sistine said. "Is it because of budgetary issues where they're taking an effective tool away from DPD, or is the technology not working?" Midian Shofner, CEO of the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership, said surveillance systems like ShotSpotter raise deeper questions about trust and equity, pointing to concerns that many sensors are placed in lower income areas and communities of color. DPD said it does not release the exact locations of its sensors, but that placement was data driven. According to DPD, from 2020 to 2026 the technology generated more than 25,000 alerts, led to 655 arrests, and the recovery of 721 firearms. As part of the ramp down, DPD said it will begin phasing out ShotSpotter coverage in the Sun Valley and Park Hill neighborhoods. "The most important thing is that we continue to support DPD in their efforts and whatever tools that we can have for them to be effective in policing," Van Sistine said.