Learn how to deploy a successful RTCC in your city
with the right planning, technology, and partnerships
Big and small, cities everywhere are trying to get a handle on crime and keep people safe. Much of this falls on the shoulders of law enforcement and public safety teams. These agencies are working around the clock, doing their best to quickly respond to emergencies and get offenders off the streets. And they’re doing it all despite ongoing staff shortages, increased violence toward officers, and rigid budget constraints.
Using older, disconnected technologies makes their jobs even harder. Many inefficient manual processes and siloed communication between agencies cut into valuable time and resources. Add in the constant threat of cyberattacks and public mistrust over data governance; keeping cities safe can seem like an impossible task.
For all these reasons, more city agencies are considering the benefits of real-time crime centers (RTCCs). In fact, according to The National Real Time Crime Center Association, there are over 150 RTCCs in the United States today. And that number keeps growing. RTCCs help cities and small communities harness the power of existing technology investments, real-time data, and advanced analytics to skyrocket public safety initiatives.
They unify data streams and operations across city departments, which often leads to the following results:
- Reduced crime rates.
- Efficient incident response.
- Faster case clearance.
- Improved officer safety.
- Stronger city-wide collaboration.
As law enforcement and public safety agencies start investigating or planning for an RTCC, knowing where to begin and what to look for and prioritize in the decision-making is critical. On the planning side, agencies must consider initial technology and space assessments, various funding strategies, and the vested interests of all city stakeholders. When assessing core RTCC platforms, data integration and unification, adaptability and growth, community connections, inter-agency collaboration, cybersecurity, and privacy should always top wish lists.
Finally, working with an experienced and trusted partner can often help ease the entire RTCC journey and generate the most successful long-term outcomes.
Why You Need an RTCC
Challenges in public safety today
Disconnected systems, data, and people Public safety and police agencies use various technologies to keep their communities safe. Yet, all these systems and devices are often running independently. Having to retrieve data from different sources and piece together information is not only cumbersome, but it slows emergency response and investigations. These siloed systems and data further limit inter-agency communication and collaboration, leading to huge efficiency losses.
Growing cyber threats and privacy concerns From Internet of Things (IoT) devices to new crime-fighting solutions, the use of technology is expanding across cities. With that, so are data security and privacy concerns. Despite continually improving cybersecurity practices, cities can’t always keep up with the sophistication of today’s cybercriminals. Citizens also want greater transparency around how cities use, collect, and manage data. Building public trust and strengthening cybersecurity and privacy efforts remain top of mind.
Inefficient evidence management When a crime occurs, investigators often spend a lot of time gathering evidence to build cases. They go from place to place, collecting everything from video footage and 911 call recordings to text messages and audio recordings. If cases go to court, they must also burn DVDs and deliver them to attorneys. The entire process saps resources and slows investigations. Storing and sharing physical copies of evidence also makes it difficult to ensure the evidentiary authenticity and chain of custody.
Ongoing personnel shortages Police departments everywhere are struggling to hire and keep officers. According to a recent survey, only 10% of respondents confirmed their police department was fully staffed. As crime evolves and demand for effective policing remains constant, existing officers and public safety teams are trying their best to keep up. However, the pressure on people to do more is heightening stress and burnout in an already demanding line of work.
Increased violence toward officers In recent times, violent crime and antipolice rhetoric have been running high. This has caused a rise in aggression towards law enforcement. Though the very nature of police work exposes officers to physical altercations and risks, officer safety remains paramount across agencies. Yet, there’s still a significant opportunity to leverage existing technologies to enhance information sharing, improve officer readiness, and drive safer outcomes.
Rigid budget constraints Public safety and law enforcement agencies don’t always have extra room in their budget to make technological enhancements. Even when decisionmakers recognize the benefits of new solutions, long-standing budget rigidity and red-tape approval processes hold them back. Yet these public safety innovations can drive ripple effects in time and cost savings across departments, offering substantial returns on investments over time.
What is a real-time crime center? Real-time crime centers (RTCCs) take public safety initiatives to the next level. They act as crime-fighting nerve centers, unifying data streams and operations across city departments.
Within these state-of-the-art tech hubs, public safety and law enforcement teams can tap into a central source of real-time information and trending data. Everything from 911 calls and dispatch information to live video, various sensor data can stream onto video walls and monitors for all operators and investigators to see. During an emergency, they can then quickly understand what’s happening and effectively deploy resources to mitigate the situation. During investigations, detectives can dive deep and collect evidence with all relevant data at their fingertips.
What’s the outcome? A unified front of public safety technology and resources that help reduce incident response times, improve officer safety, speed up investigations, and enhance data collection across the city landscape.
The core of an RTCC and the value of true ‘real-time’ At its core, an RTCC is built on a foundational, frontend solution that offers operators a single interface pane of glass. This is what brings all data from various systems and sensors together and provides public safety teams with real-time situational awareness and support. It does this by analyzing and correlating all incoming information and then pointing officers to the most pressing situations. All relevant video and data is displayed on an interactive city map, allowing for added situational context to make faster, more informed decisions.
Here’s an important caveat: not all front-end RTCC platforms are created equal. The term ‘real-time’ is often carelessly thrown around, even when a solution’s capabilities don’t match up. For instance, some solutions may only be capable of providing video and data with a slight delay, meaning it’s not truly live. And when every second counts in apprehending a suspect or handling an emergency, that delay can be critical to response operations. Only true real-time information can help officers properly mitigate events and track suspects.
How an RTCC Benefits Your Public Safety Operations
Support crime reduction An RTCC drives intelligence and automation into the hands of public safety teams, allowing them to work smarter and faster. This ultimately leads to more timely responses and in-depth investigations. In many cases, it also sends a strong message that crime and gun violence get a swift response. And that can deter bad actors and reduce offenses across communities. The power of an RTCC goes beyond that. Cities are collecting a vast amount of data every day. And when all of that comes into one central space, there’s an opportunity to identify crime hotspots, trending patterns, and even process improvements. Having a centralized data-driven hub can help inform decisions and strategies that further shrink crime rates.
Effective crime-rate shrinkage in Chicago After deploying RTCCs, the city of Chicago saw a 39% reduction in on-scene arrival times in one of the most at-risk districts. They also saw a 22% decrease in shootings within 1 year across Chicago districts where RTCCs were implemented. The Chicago PD emphasized that the persistent availability of staff and a room to monitor operations, supported by cameras, a live map display, and other technologies helped to detect, respond, and investigate crimes in near real-time. Commanders could also make data-driven planning decisions much faster and more regularly than was previously possible.
Streamline incident response What’s the true power of an RTCC? Transforming raw data from many sources into information that fuels faster, more effective decisions when it counts most. In an instant, operators are alerted when a gunshot is detected and a 911 call is underway. They’ll get immediate access to nearby cameras, license plate reads, and historical reports, sharing all of it with nearby patrol officers as they respond. Operators can then monitor the situation in progress, provide real-time updates, and help compile evidence after it’s all over. Using an RTCC, there’s less guesswork, greater automation, and powerful insights at hand. All of this spikes resource efficiency, supporting a swift and safe response no matter what comes up.
Proactive emergency response at Mesa Police Department The Mesa Police Department RTCC is a 3,000-square-foot public safety command center, equipped with massive video walls and all the latest technology. Today, when a 911 call comes in, the 16 closest video feeds based on the caller’s geo-coordinates are automatically displayed for operators. The team can immediately start working the call, identify the closest police vehicles on the map, review video footage, and provide realtime assistance to responding officers. One mouse click on the caller’s address will also pull up data such as prior calls received from that location and any notes associated with past incidents.
Speed up investigations An RTCC acts as a central repository for collecting, managing, and storing all city data. This makes it easier than ever to compile evidence during and after incidents. For instance, operators can export 911 calls, case notes, video, and much more into a digital evidence system following an incident. On the scene, officers can use mobile apps to digitally collect and transfer witness statements and other evidence into case files. Investigators can work within the RTCC, using forensic analytics and quick search tools to find pivotal video and data for their cases or securely request evidence via email. They can also digitally share entire case files with attorneys to streamline discoveries. An RTCC saves agencies countless hours in investigative work, while increasing clearance rates.
Digital evidence management in New Brighton At the New Brighton Department of Public Safety RTCC, the CAD system, body-wearable cameras, and in-car camera systems are directly linked to a digital evidence management solution. Evidence is automatically uploaded into case files, ensuring officers have everything at their fingertips. Finding evidence is as simple as entering the case number in the digital evidence management system. They can also input quick search parameters such as date, time, types of files, GPS coordinates, and much more. Switching to a map view displays all available evidence that matches the search criteria on a city map.
Improve officer safety Using an RTCC, public safety operators can provide data-driven virtual assistance to in-field officers. When an emergency call comes in, they can quickly dispatch the nearest patrol car and transmit all relevant information verbally and to their in-vehicle laptops. This allows responding officers to understand what’s happening, and better prepare for the situation. Operators can also monitor nearby cameras to provide realtime updates and ensure that all is going smoothly as officers handle the incident. This virtual support also helps keep officers out of harm’s way during larger city events. RTCC operators can remotely monitor crowds, leverage analytics to pinpoint potential risks, and quickly alert nearby officers when they need to take action.
Monitoring big city events from a distance in Albuquerque For the Albuquerque Police Department, having an RTCC has been instrumental in helping to monitor large public gatherings while keeping officers safe. All cameras and events within a specific radius of a gathering or protest are displayed on a map-based interface from their video wall. This allows RTCC operators to remotely keep an eye on everything that’s unfolding from afar. Uniformed officers can remain in an area where they’re able to quickly respond, but they don’t need to be mixed into the public gathering. That’s because the RTCC team has a handle on what’s happening.
Enhance city-wide collaboration Having an RTCC in place means police and public safety teams all share the same view of what’s happening across the city. This allows for more effective resource coordination and collaboration, which in turn, leads to faster incident response and threat mitigation. Using the right technology, public agencies can also forge partnerships with private businesses and residents, requesting access to public-facing cameras to simplify evidence collection. They can connect video cameras and IoT sensors from other city agencies within the RTCC platform. This not only broadens their view of what’s happening, but all this data can lead to significant insights that enhance everything from disaster recovery to sustainability initiatives.
Partnering up for stronger public safety in New Orleans Since implementing an RTCC, the New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) has forged partnerships with local businesses. This allows the NOHSEP team to access video from participating companies’ systems, without disturbing owners or customers. The results? NOHSEP was able to provide police detectives with relevant video and information in 70% of cases, saving officers about 2000 hours of on-foot investigative work. The NOHSEP team has also shared city video feeds with other departments such as the Sewage and Water Board, so they can determine the rate at which an intersection floods.
Preliminary considerations in building an RTCC
How to begin your RTCC planning Big cities are not the only ones that can build and benefit from an RTCC. Agencies of all sizes can capitalize on existing technology investments to drive higher levels of efficiency, information-sharing, and collaboration across public safety operations. Though it takes some initial planning and forethought, the path to building a robust and effective RTCC starts with the following considerations below.
Assessing existing technologies and space
- Take an inventory of technologies: Put together a list of the law enforcement and public safety technologies that are already deployed. This will help establish a baseline for some core systems that can be unified within an RTCC initially. For many agencies, this will include a CAD solution, video cameras, body wearable or in-car video systems, police radios, and maybe ALPR cameras.
- Evaluate outside law enforcement: Consider the video and data sources from other city departments that can benefit RTCC operations. Think about other agency-owned video systems or IoT sensors that can provide additional operational context. There could be an opportunity to capitalize on these data points as plans to expand RTCC capabilities evolve over time.
- Consider an open, central space: The physical space of the RTCC should encompass some key characteristics. Seek out a large, open, and centrally located space without windows. This will limit distractions and provide room for a large-scale video wall, as well as individual monitoring stations for operators. Commanders should have a view of the entire room to direct operations.
- Think through RTCC use cases: The RTCC will serve as the hub for all things public safety and threat management. However, on a day-to-day basis, there might also be a need for designated areas for debriefing staff, handling investigations, and analyzing crime data. All of these considerations will impact how the RTCC is designed and equipped.
- Stay open to long-term goals: RTCCs should be designed to evolve. Consider other innovative technologies that could enhance public safety operations. Look at spaces that have the potential to accommodate bigger, better operations. Keeping these things in mind can help ease future expansions, especially as city officials recognize the full potential of an RTCC.
Exploring key RTCC funding strategies
- Research different types of grants: Consider the various grants from federal, state, and local government entities, but don’t exclude foundations and corporations. Explore how the RTCC objectives and plans best align with the grantor’s objectives, whether that’s crime prevention, community safety, or emergency preparedness. The more aligned, the higher the success rate.
- Prepare a detailed budget: Having a detailed and accurate budget is critical to receiving a grant. Make sure that the budget reflects all the technology and space investments outlined above, as well as other operational costs such as personnel, training, and maintenance. Ensure that the budget is realistic and justifiable and that it adheres to the grant’s financial guidelines.
- Get support from the community: Grants often favor projects with strong community support and collaboration. Engage with local businesses, community organizations, and other stakeholders to build partnerships. These alliances not only strengthen the grant application but also ensure the project’s long-termsuccess and sustainability.
- Be meticulous with grant management: Follow the grant application guidelines thoroughly. After submission, be prepared to respond to any follow-up questions from the grantor. If the grant is awarded, everything from meeting reporting requirements and managing funds responsibly to ensuring the project meets outlined goals and timelines will become priorities.
- Work with grant professionals: Some RTCC solution providers have grant experts on hand. Consider working with these professionals for additional support and guidance. They can help agencies source the most aligned grants, offer grant writing tips, ensure the application is optimized for success, and assist with grant filing and follow-ups.
Bringing all city stakeholders to the table
- Build an RTCC planning team: Many people have a stake in the RTCC decision process. Police chiefs and deputy chiefs want to ensure that the RTCC will support policing efforts and drive measurable results. City council is considering budgets and public opinion, and IT will want to know about system architectures and cybersecurity. Each provides valuable perspectives that can ensure project success.
- Engage city council early: Getting city councillors on board with an RTCC project from the start can make the buying journey much smoother. This will give them a full grasp on how an RTCC can positively impact public safety, what’s involved in private-public collaboration, why certain technology features matter, and how the right investment can increase cost savings down the road.
- Prioritize IT requirements: The RTCC is a mission-critical deployment that shouldn’t ever experience any downtime or disruptions. This is why IT experts are an important ally in the decision process. They help ensure that the RTCC is built on a solid technological foundation that delivers the highest levels of reliability, resource optimization, and cybersecurity.
- Communicate RTCC objectives: When building a new RTCC, public interest matters. Identifying objectives and communicating them with the public can foster greater transparency and trust. It can also help garner support from businesses and community leaders. In some cases, this buy-in can lead to greater allocation of funding and a smoother overall process.
- Find the right partners: Planning for and building an RTCC doesn’t have to happen in isolation. Relying on channel partners with public safety and RTCC experience can provide valuable insights and guidance in the decision-making process. They can become a reliable sounding board for the whole RTCC planning team as different considerations and questions arise.
5 Critical Success Factors for Your RTCC Platform
As mentioned earlier, every RTCC is built on the backbone of a core software platform. Choosing the right crime center solution can become instrumental in helping law enforcement and public safety teams achieve peak efficiency and reap the full benefits of an RTCC. Explore the 5 must-haves characteristics of an RTCC platform below.
Data integration and unification At its core, an RTCC is a central data hub. Its success relies on the ability to bring many different data sources across the city into one unified operational and tactical experience. But just as much as the volume of data matters, so does its quality. Large amounts of raw, unorganized information won’t help operators do their jobs. An RTCC platform that supports deep-level integrations with a broad ecosystem of technologies, systems, and devices is a must. Being able to build custom integrations with open APIs and SDKs can further enhance data optimization. A crime center solution that unifies core technologies into one intuitive experience should also top must-have lists. A unified RTCC platform comes packed with features such as dynamic maps, advanced analytics, visualization dashboards, forensic search, and built-in automation tools. All of this helps operators remain confident and in control, even during stressful situations. That’s because they can quickly make sense of all the incoming data and act fast.
Adaptability and growth Nothing is static about an RTCC. What a city starts with today will likely change and evolve over time. This might include adding the latest drone technologies, expanding city-wide cameras, or connecting new IoT sensors for waste or water treatment departments. It could also involve expanding the video wall or hiring more specialized cybersecurity staff. Having the ability to pivot strategies, make changes, and expand the technological footprint of the RTCC is critical. This allows public safety teams to adapt to changing needs and take advantage of the latest crime-fighting innovations as they come to market. Choosing an open and highly scalable RTCC solution can help agencies achieve ultimate flexibility. An open platform lets RTCC leaders choose technologies that best suit needs and budgets. Investing in a solution that is proven to scale ensures growth and expansions will never be limited. Public safety organizations can keep building on what they have, without restrictions or performance issues.
Community connections When community engagement is high, RTCC operations thrive. Establishing these public-private partnerships, whether with local businesses, residents, or schools and hospitals, offers two significant benefits:
- the ability to expand visibility across the city without additional investments by leveraging existing privately-owned cameras; and
- the ability to forge alliances with the community, allowing them to actively participate in strengthening public safety efforts. A successful private-public partnership starts with aligning objectives and values. But it also requires an RTCC platform that is engineered from a technological standpoint to support these initiatives. Choosing a platform that is designed with these community connections in mind is a foundational component. Always consider whether the RTCC platform can securely bring in camera connections from outside entities and allow operators to seamlessly request access and manage all devices in one view. Beyond that, consider whether the technology is designed to help streamline every aspect of the program, from the initial participant and camera registration to the legal terms and conditions.
Inter-agency collaboration An RTCC by nature is designed to foster inter-agency collaboration. It’s a pathway to bringing data and people together, supporting effective resource management and better information sharing. Keeping this in mind, choose an RTCC solution that makes sharing information and linking up different agency systems easier. Look for core features that simplify connections to cameras from the mass transit department, or lighting sensors from the parks and recreation department. This will ensure that the RTCC team has a comprehensive and shared view of what’s happening across the city. They’ll also have the ability to work more closely with other city departments to coordinate security efforts during big city events. Additionally, prioritize an RTCC portfolio with digital evidence management capabilities. This will not only streamline investigative work but also significantly improve evidence sharing processes with district attorney offices. Time savings aside, a digital evidence management system can strengthen everything from privacy compliance to evidentiary authenticity and chain of custody.
Cybersecurity and privacy Cyberattacks are on the rise. Without adequate protection, any device or system connected to the RTCC platform can become the source of a breach. A city environment is also unique. There’s a fine balance between collecting data to secure the public, while also ensuring that data is protected and in compliance with privacy mandates. Consider an RTCC solution that comes with layers of built-in cyber defenses and is designed with privacy in mind. This will give RTCC teams access to a host of tools that support proactive risk detection and data governance. These could include cybersecurity dashboards to identify real-time vulnerabilities or decision-support solutions to streamline and track maintenance tasks. On the privacy side, this might involve automating retention periods or using privacy masking analytics to blur identities in video frames. Finally, always work with a trusted technology provider. Be diligent in checking the vendor’s accredited certifications, their own data protection and privacy practices, and whether their solutions are highly compliant and government-approved.
Partnering for RTCC Success
Building an RTCC from scratch can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, it’s a big investment, and all stakeholders have a vested interest in making the right decisions. Yes, there are a lot of moving pieces and important factors to consider. But building a successful RTCC isn’t as complex as you might think, especially when you have experienced partners on your side.
At Genetec, our dedicated team of RTCC experts can help guide and advise agencies through every phase of the planning and implementation process. That includes helping initially assess and strategize, lending support during installation, and assisting with ongoing operator training and system optimizations. We’ll also work with you to build a solid roadmap, ensuring you can keep unlocking more value for your city.
The best part? You can connect with our government, law enforcement, and public safety customers who have been where you are – right at the beginning of your RTCC journey – and are now reaping all the benefits that you’re aiming for. It’s this level of collaboration and partnership that leads to the best RTCC outcomes.
