Overview
- The Cambridge City Council voted to restore ShotSpotter Monday, approving a 6-3 order that directs the city manager to reactivate the acoustic sensors for a 90-day trial period.
- The order requires the city to form a representative group of residents selected by lottery to review evidence and make recommendations about whether to keep the system permanently.
- The decision follows the July 4 killing of 32-year-old DPW worker Xavier Bautista, whose body was found about an hour after he was shot, and police unions said the system’s absence may have delayed emergency aid.
- Supporters argue the technology can speed first-responder alerts and help solve crimes, while critics including the ACLU point to false positives, privacy risks, and a lack of clear evidence that ShotSpotter reduces gun violence.
- ShotSpotter has been used in Cambridge since 2014 and the company does not disclose exact device locations, so the 90-day trial will focus on gathering local data and resident input to guide the city’s next steps.