# Chicago Pilots Gunshot Detection Systems

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a pilot of gunshot-detection and other public-safety technologies in Police Districts 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11, with launch planned within two weeks of the announcement. The city has not identified the vendors or disclosed the pilot cost, and says pilot programs do not require competitive bidding. A previously budgeted $5 million line item for a gunshot-detection system provides a funding reference, but is not a disclosed value for this pilot. For contractors, the pilot offers a near-term opportunity to demonstrate technology; privacy safeguards and evidence of effectiveness may influence any longer-term procurement.

- Companies offering gunshot-detection or related public-safety technologies can evaluate whether they are positioned to participate in the pilot; the city has not published vendor or solicitation details.
- Procurement teams and prospective suppliers should distinguish the pilot from a competitively bid contract: the city says pilots are exempt from competitive bidding, while the pilot’s cost and vendors remain undisclosed.
- The city says pilot results and community input will inform decisions about longer-term commitments, making demonstrated effectiveness and privacy considerations relevant to future purchasing decisions.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of Chicago
- Chicago Police Department (CPD)
- Contracting Oversight Committee

### Vendors
- ShotSpotter (Former incumbent gunshot-detection technology provider)

### Key Quotes
> These pilots ensure that before we make long-term commitments, we understand what works, listen to the communities impacted, and make sure we're getting results for Chicagoans, not simply enriching large corporations.
> — Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

### Sources
- [New gunshot detection system debuting in six Chicago police districts, Mayor Brandon Johnson announces](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/gunshot-detection-system-debuting-six-231000290.html) - Yahoo