Chicago police have abandoned the ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot detection system. This week, Sound Thinking began dismantling its equipment across the city. The system worked for six years.

ShotSpotter sensors are installed in areas where shootings occur frequently. According to ABC Chicago, a majority of City Council members voted to continue using the system, but Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed it, citing the need to find more efficient methods.

“The ultimate goal is to focus resources on the most effective strategies and tactics that will accelerate the current downward trend in violent crime. We must explore the best options that will save more lives.”

Chicago resident Crystal Dority believes that ShotSpotter has been ineffective in combating shootings and that the city would benefit more from police patrols.

“Goodbye, the tablecloth is on the way. We need active police to come and check the area regularly. But it’s like a desert here,” she said.

Mayor Johnson announced that the city has begun exploring other ways to track dangerous situations and has put out a request for companies willing to cooperate. The document outlines specific requirements for the technology, including “a method to detect and filter out false positives and false negatives,” “the ability to provide confirmation of an incident within 60 seconds,” and “the ability to gather information related to the incident for the court.”

City council members who wanted to keep ShotSpotter are unhappy that the administration didn’t start the process sooner. Chicago police officers will now have to rely solely on 911 calls, according to Police Officer Chris Taliaferro.

“The Chicago Police Department frequently adjusts our public safety efforts based on the needs of residents and the resources available to us. This case is no exception. We remind residents to call 911 if they hear loud noises that sound like gunshots. It is imperative that we all do our part to keep our city safe and our families safe,” ABC Chicago quoted the police as saying.