
Spotlight Politics: ShotSpotter Contract Coming to an End
Clip: 2/13/2024 | 8m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on the day's biggest news.
Mayor Brandon Johnson fulfills a major campaign promise. The former chief of staff to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is sentenced for lying to a grand jury. And the question of who gets the final say on holding police accountable for serious misconduct returns to City Council.
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Spotlight Politics: ShotSpotter Contract Coming to an End
Clip: 2/13/2024 | 8m 44sVideo has Closed Captions
Mayor Brandon Johnson fulfills a major campaign promise. The former chief of staff to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is sentenced for lying to a grand jury. And the question of who gets the final say on holding police accountable for serious misconduct returns to City Council.
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THE MAYOR FULFILLS A MAJOR CAMPAIGN PROMISE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN IS SENTENCED FOR LYING TO A GRAND JURY.
AND THE QUESTION OF WHO GETS THE FINAL SAY ON HOLDING POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT RETURNS TO CITY COUNCIL AND RETURNING NOW WITH MORE IS OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS TEAM AMANDA, HEADER, SHARON IN TAKING SO AS WE HEARD THE TOP OF THE SHOW, OF COURSE, MAYOR JOHNSON CANCELING THE SHOTSPOTTER CONTRACT, BUT THE CITY IS GOING TO KEEP USING IT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 22ND HEATHER WATER TO KEEPING IT THROUGH THE SUMMER WHEN THE CONTRACT EXPIRES NOW.
WELL, THE MAYOR STATEMENT ANNOUNCING THE CANCELLATION OF THE COUNCIL CONTRACT DIDN'T REALLY GET INTO THAT.
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS SUMMER, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.
AND I THINK THAT THE WAY SHOTSPOTTERS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS IS GOING TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO SORT OUT THOSE ALERTS GO INTO WHAT'S CALLED STRATEGIC DECISION SUPPORT CENTER.
SO THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW OPERATE THOSE CENTERS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO CRIME AND TO TRACK CRIME WITHOUT USING SHOTSPOTTER.
ALSO THE SUMMER, AS WE ALL KNOW IS TYPICALLY THE MOST VIOLENT PART OF THE YEAR.
>> AND IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT IF THERE WAS AN UPSURGE IN CRIME THE SUMMER AND A SHOTSPOTTER WASN'T OPERATING.
THE MAYOR WOULD FACE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CRITICISM.
THIS IS A WAY TO LOOK HIS KENTUCKY.
INDEED IT I LIKE WHAT YOU DID HAPPY MARDI GRAS, EVERYBODY.
THIS, OF COURSE, AS MEDA SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL POSE A MAJOR CAMPAIGN >> BUT WHY WAS DITCHING THIS SO IMPORTANT TO THE AND A LOT OF PROGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
RAHM EMANUEL SAID THAT THIS LED TO OVER POLICING IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
>> THAT FOLKS OF COLOR IN A BAD POSITION.
AND THERE ARE MANY STUDIES THAT INDICATE THAT SHOTS BUYERS NOT ACCURATE, THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF TIME SHOT SPIDER TRIGGERED POLICE RESPONSE.
THERE WAS NO ACTUAL ARREST.
THERE WAS NO ACTUAL INCIDENT.
THEN THERE'S THE CASES OF, YOU KNOW, 4TH OF JULY.
SHOTSPOTTER KNOW WHETHER IT'S FIREWORKS OR OR GUNSHOT.
NOW WE SHOULD.
WE SHOULD SAY THAT THE POLICE AND DEFENDERS OF SHOTSPOTTER SAY THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THAT ACTUALLY IT'S VERY ACCURATE AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN PUBLIC SAFETY THAT POLICE HAVE INTEGRATED INTO THEIR OVERALL TOOL KIT.
SO IT'S NOT UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED, BUT A LOT PROGRESSIVE WHO CITED THAT DATA THAT SAID IT JUST DIDN'T WORK MOST.
THE TIME WAS ALSO THE CRITICISM THAT POLICE OFFICERS UPON HEARING THAT ALERT GO CHARGING INTO COMMUNITY, EXPECTING TO RESPOND TO GUNFIRE AND AS IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHEN MAYBE GUNFIRE ACTUALLY DIDN'T GO DOWN HAVE OUR ANY REACTION FROM SOME THINKING THE COMPANY THAT MAKES SHOTSPOTTER?
WELL, I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST FOR COMMENT, BUT THE STOCK MARKET CERTAINLY HAD A REACTION.
IT ITS STOCK DROPPED MORE THAN 18% ON THE DAY, WHICH BRINGS THE COMPANY'S VALUE.
ACCORDING TO THE STOCK MARKET DOWN BY MORE THAN 50% SENSE.
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON'S ELECTION.
>> A CLEAR SIGN THAT CHICAGO IS A CRUCIAL MARKET FOR THIS COMPANY.
AND YOU CAN EVEN KNOW THAT BECAUSE IT REBRANDED AFTER JOHNSON'S ELECTION FROM SHOTSPOTTER TO SOUND THINKING AND BEGAN TALKING MORE ABOUT HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY COULD BE USED TO RESPOND TO THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AS OPPOSED TO SORT LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING HAS PUBLICLY BACKED SHOTSPOTTER AS A CRUCIAL TOOL AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE.
DO WE KNOW IF ANYTHING WILL BE USED TO REPLACE IT?
HEATHER, AND HOW IS THIS MONEY GOING TO BE SO THIS CONTRACT OVER LIFE OF THAT SINCE 2018 HAS COST TAXPAYERS ALMOST 50 MILLION DOLLARS.
SO IN THE WHOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUDGET OF NEARLY 2 BILLION DOLLARS, MAYBE NOT A HUGE AMOUNT, BUT STILL ENOUGH MONEY TO SIGNIFICANTLY ADD TO THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR ALTERNATE 9-1-1, RESPONSE OR VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
SO IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT.
BUT THERE'S REALLY NO OTHER COMPANY THAT WORKS.
THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE.
SO THIS WAS REALLY SORT OF ALL OR NOTHING.
AND THE MAYOR SAYS NOTHING IN SEPTEMBER.
SEPTEMBER.
WE'LL SEE, I SUPPOSE ARE HOPEFULLY BEFORE THEN AMANDA, LONGTIME CHIEF OF STAFF TO FORMER ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN WAS YESTERDAY SENTENCED FOR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND PERJURY FOR LYING TO A GRAND JURY.
>> THAT WAS INVESTIGATING MADIGAN.
WHAT WAS HIS SENTENCE?
AND OF COURSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO MEET HERE.
WHAT WAS HIS SENTENCE AND WHAT WAS HE FOUND TO HAVE LIED ABOUT?
MAPES WILL BE GOING TO PRISON FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS.
AND THIS WAS DESPITE A LOT OF VERY PROMINENT FOLKS, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHO WE JUST KNOW THAT.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF WHO'S WHO THAT WRITTEN ON HIS BEHALF AT TO ASKING FOR MORE LENIENCY, MAPES HIMSELF SAYING THAT HE HAD WORKED FOR THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THEM WAS AGREED THAT THIS WITH SOMETHING THAT MADE PEOPLE BELIEVE LESS IN GOVERNMENT.
BUT WHAT DID HE DO?
WELL, WHAT THE JUDGE DESCRIBED THIS MISGUIDED LOYALTY SAYING THAT EVEN WHEN MAPES HAD IMMUNITY TO TELL ALL TO A GRAND JURY.
SO COULD HAVE SAID ANYTHING WITHOUT THREAT OF PROSECUTION, THAT HE LIED, THAT HE CONTINUALLY SAID, I DON'T RECALL WHEN IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT HE SHOULD RECALL BRIGHT GUY KNOWN FOR AS HE EVEN PUT IT, KEEPING THE TRAINS RUNNING ON TIME IN SPRINGFIELD THAT HE DID NOT TELL THEM THE TRUTH IN A WAY TO IT SEEMS PROTECT MAD AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH AGAIN, BY THE WAY, HAD OUSTED MAYBES FROM THAT CHIEF OF STAFF POSITION THAT HE WAS IN FOR SO LONG IN 2018 KIND OF KICKED HIM TO THE PARIS, DOES THIS GIVE ANY SORT INDICATION OR IMPLICATION ABOUT WHAT MADIGAN ZONE, FEDERAL, RACKETEERING AND BRIBERY TRIAL WILL LOOK LIKE WHICH IS SLATED TO BEGIN OCTOBER.
YEAH, AND BY THE WAY, AND THAT WAS FOR ME TO ISSUES THAT WAS FROM APES IS HANDLING OF ME TO ISSUES IN THAT OFFICE.
NOTHING WITH CORRUPTION ARRESTS, RIGHT?
THAT SO THIS SORT OF SOLACE TO THEM AND A GOOD TEAM, THEIR THEIR THEIR THEIR FOCUS IS DEAD SET ON THE SUPREME COURT RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S WHY IT'S DELAYED UNTIL OCTOBER, BECAUSE FREEPORT GOING TO TAKE UP A CASE OUT OF INDIANA THAT COULD REDEFINE THE BRIBERY STATUTE.
SO THEY THINK THAT THIS CASE IN INDIANA SIMILAR TO WHAT MADIGAN IS BEING CHARGED IN THAT SUPREME COURT SAYS NO, THAT WASN'T BRIBERY WITH US.
SMALL TOWN INDIANA DID.
THEN THEY THINK THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE.
AND THEN SOME OF THESE OTHER CONVICTED >> FELONS, MAYBE THEY WANT TO TRY FOR A RETRIAL OR AN APPEALING THEIR CASE.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FOR EVERYTHING AND THESE COMMENT RELATED TRIAL.
SO NO, THAT DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR MADIGAN AT ALL.
AND OF COURSE, TO BE CLEAR, IS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT US WAITING HEAR FROM ON THIS ISSUE 100 ISSUE OF ARBITRATION FOR A POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT EXPECTED TO BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR CITY COUNCIL ON THURSDAY.
SEEMS LIKE IT KEEPS COMING UP.
>> WHAT ARE EXPECTING THIS TIME?
WELL, THIS AT LEAST SEEMS TO BE THE DEFINITIVE SO ON WHETHER THE CITY IS GOING TO SORT OF START WHAT PROMISES TO BE A HUGE LEGAL FIGHT OVER WHETHER POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF SIGNIFICANT MISCONDUCT THAT COULD LEAD TO THEIR TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF UP TO YEAR.
>> COULD THEIR CASES DECIDED BY AN ARBITRATOR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
RIGHT NOW THE RULES CALL FOR THOSE CASES TO BE SOUGHT DECIDED BY THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD WHICH MEETS IN PUBLIC AT MEETINGS THAT WE CAN GO TO AND THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO THE CHICAGO POLICE UNION.
THE LARGEST POLICE UNION SAYS THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE.
POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THAT DISCIPLINE PROCESS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CITY, WORKER AT THE MAYOR AND AT LEAST 30 CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT POSITION OR THIS WILL UP.
AND THE WAY POLICE DISCIPLINE HAS HAPPENED IN CHICAGO FOR THE LAST MORE THAN HALF PARIS, ANY SIGN OF AN END TO THIS IMPASSE OVER WHO WILL ULTIMATELY GET TO DECIDE WHO HOLD COPS ACCOUNTABLE?
WELL, IT'S AND SEEMS LIKE THE COURTS WILL ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHAT THE END OF THIS IMPASSE IS.
AND >> THE FOP CERTAINLY BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW HERE THAT THE COURTS WILL RULE IN THEIR FAVOR BECAUSE THIS ARBITRATOR RULED THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH ILLINOIS LABOR LAW, OTHER PUBLIC, ILLINOIS EMPLOYEES GET TO HAVE THIS KIND OF ARBITRATION PROCESS.
WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT FOR POLICE?
OF COURSE, THE ARGUMENT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN STATE TROOPERS ARE OR WHAT HAVE YOU THAT CALLED PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THEIR HANDS POTENTIALLY.
>> AND A DEADLINE TO INTRODUCE BILLS IN SPRINGFIELD WAS FRIDAY.
ANYTHING OF NOTE TO REPORT AND SLOW IN 45 SET OF THERE ARE SO MANY BILL, I'M HESITANT TO NAME ANY PARTICULAR ONE BECAUSE THERE'S JUST WAY TOO MANY PICKING INTEREST.
THERE'S A BILL TO MATCH IT.
BUT WHY HAVEN'T ANY BEEN ACTED ON?
WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE THE BIG BILL HASN'T YET BEEN INTRODUCE.
YOU HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT CAN SKIP THAT DEADLINE.
THINGS LIKE, OH, WAIT THE BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY, OUT OF THE STATE'S PRIORITIES.
SO WE WILL SOON BE HEARING FROM PRITZKER.
WHAT HIS SPENDING PLAN IS THAT IS GOING TO SET THE AGENDA.
WHY HAVE WE OTHERWISE SEEN A LOT OF ACTION NEXT TO BE IN SPRINGFIELD?
THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF SESSION BECAUSE LEGISLATORS ARE HOME GEARING UP FOR ARGENTINE PRIMARY.
THEY WANT TO BE IN THEIR DISTRICTS, NOT THE STATE CAPITOL, OK?
SO
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