Seattle City Council Shoots Down $1.5M Police Surveillance Technology Reduction

An amendment to transfer $1.5 million dedicated to police surveillance technology to fund services for tiny house villages in Seattle has been rejected by a majority of the Seattle City Council. ShotSpotter is a technology program that differentiates the sounds of gunshots from other loud sounds like fireworks or the backfiring of a vehicle so that police can respond to the scene quickly. Four city council members were in favor of transferring the $1.5 million dedicated to the technology’s implementation due to a number of studies that claim it’s ineffective and targets communities of color.