Washingtoner - Tacoma: A Statement From At-Large Council Member Olgy Diaz on ShotSpotter

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~ Tacoma, WA- At-Large Council Member Olgy Diaz has released a statement regarding the implementation of ShotSpotter technology in the city. In her statement, she expressed concerns about the potential budgetary and staffing impacts, as well as unintended consequences of over-policing and data security.

Diaz had previously spoken out about her concerns in April when the announcement was made that ShotSpotter would be coming to Tacoma. She stated that she had many questions about how the technology would work and how it would be implemented by the Tacoma Police Department.

Since then, Diaz has met with city and police department leaders to learn more about the program. The Tacoma Police Department has also created a webpage with frequently asked questions to address concerns raised by Diaz and other community members.

One of Diaz's main concerns was data integrity and privacy. She wanted reassurance that the data collected by ShotSpotter would not be shared with third parties such as SoundThinking or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Tacoma Police Department has assured her that they will not share any data with SoundThinking and that ICE is not involved in this grant.

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Diaz also expressed concern about potential unintended consequences of over-policing in certain neighborhoods. She stated that if the technology is found to be inconsistent with the values of the police department, it will immediately cease its use.

However, there are still some unknowns about how this technology will impact response times and staffing priorities in other areas of Tacoma. Other cities have tried this program before, but it did not work for them. As a result, there is no commitment from the council to continue funding ShotSpotter beyond the end of the grant-funded pilot.

The ShotSpotter technology pilot is part of a larger Department of Justice grant that includes other necessary technologies for the Tacoma Police Department. This includes crime scene imaging tools and new fingerprinting tools, which will help solve crimes and keep citizens safer. These tools will remain in use regardless of the outcome of the ShotSpotter pilot.

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In addition to the three-year pilot, the Tacoma Police Department is required to provide education to the community about the technology. This grant also ensures that there will be more opportunities for dialogue and questions from community members about police technologies. Meetings will be held in various neighborhood groups, such as Neighborhood Council meetings, Safe Streets meetings, and Neighborhood Business District meetings.

Diaz thanked community members who attended outreach opportunities by the Tacoma Police Department to learn more about the program and grant. She emphasized the importance of hearing from those who live and work in the Hosmer area where the pilot is being implemented. Diaz encouraged everyone to stay involved in this conversation as there is still much to learn about the technology and its impact on accountability and safety.

The implementation of ShotSpotter technology has sparked discussions about police technologies in Tacoma. With more opportunities for dialogue and transparency, Diaz hopes that trust between law enforcement and community members can continue to grow.

Filed Under: Government, City

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