The South Bend Police Department has released its ShotSpotter coverage map to Redress South Bend, marking a shift from its earlier refusal to provide the document in response to a public records request.
The disclosure follows a prior denial under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act, in which the department declined to release the map citing security and operational concerns. The agency has not publicly explained what prompted the change in position.
ShotSpotter is an acoustic gunfire detection system that uses a network of sensors to identify impulsive sounds consistent with gunshots. The technology relies on automated algorithms to filter potential incidents, followed by human review before alerts are sent to responding officers. Supporters of the system say it allows police to respond more quickly to gunfire, including in cases where no 911 call is made.
According to the map obtained by Redress South Bend, ShotSpotter coverage in South Bend spans approximately 7.5 square miles of the city’s roughly 44 total square miles. The system consists of approximately 80 sensors placed throughout the covered areas.
Redress South Bend also reports that it has obtained a list of the 80 individual sensor locations, though it has not yet made those locations public.
The limited geographic scope of the system raises questions about where ShotSpotter is deployed and why certain neighborhoods are included while others are not. Community advocates and civil liberties groups nationwide have raised concerns that gunfire detection technology is often concentrated in lower-income and minority communities.
City officials have not yet indicated whether they plan to expand, reduce, or modify ShotSpotter coverage in South Bend.
The placement of Shotspotter equipment in South Bend is likely to fuel further debate about how the city balances public safety, transparency, and community trust when deploying surveillance and law enforcement technology.
Logan Foster
Logan Foster is the founder and editor of Redress South Bend, an independent news outlet covering local government, courts, and public institutions in South Bend and St. Joseph County, Indiana. He reports from primary documents: public records requests, court filings, state audit reports, and campaign finance disclosures. His reporting has examined city and school district payments made without competitive bidding, school board spending, and the records of candidates in county races. Redress South Bend obtained the South Bend Police Department's ShotSpotter coverage map after the department initially denied public access. The outlet is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Online News Association. Reach him at info@redresssouthbend.com
