SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield will pay $1.1 million for another three years’ worth of ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system which, critics say, other cities have discontinued.

Ald. Shawn Gregory (pictured) said he likes the program but wants to see more information about, for example, false positives. A car backfiring or traveling over railroad tracks can set off the system. Gregory also noted the placement of the ShotSpotter sensors. “We should have that data, and it should be out west,” Gregory said, mentioning a murder at a west side fast-food restaurant. “Had we had ShotSpotter out there, maybe we could have gotten there quicker, but we don’t. It’s all on the east side.”

On the other hand, scholarly works Gregory mentioned do not support the program. Citing research by Duke University, Gregory said, “Research found that notifications increased, and immediate response times improved, but only by one and a half minutes. But they could not determine whether the technology reduced gun violence.”

Gregory’s amendment failed, 5-4. Gregory and Ald. Roy Williams were the only aldermen to vote against the purchase, which passed, 7-2. Ald. Larry Rockford was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.