Richmond Leader

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Police Department had a soft launch of their inaugural real-time crime center, also known as the Capital City Intelligence Center, earlier this week. While there are still personnel to hire and software and equipment to acquire, the center will begin assisting law enforcement officers to respond quickly to crimes in progress or to those that recently occurred using new technology.

Earlier this year, the City of Richmond received a $750,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia to launch a real time crime center. The center will provide the Richmond Police Department with the ability to capitalize on a comprehensive and expanding range of technologies for efficient and effective policing. The technologies available include security cameras, license plate readers (LPR) cameras, shot detection, officers' body-worn cameras, and more – all tools that will allow officers to respond to calls for service more efficiently, more deliberately, with improved operational intelligence, and with a proactive emphasis on officer, citizen, and community safety.

“The key to a thriving city is a safe city – and day in and day out my administration is working to create a safer Richmond,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “We’re throwing the kitchen sink at this issue. And this is what the kitchen sink looks like. With a Real Time Crime Center officers in the field will have the assistance of modern technology to maximize the efficiency and speed of investigations and most importantly, keep Richmonders safe.”

"From Las Vegas to Miami, Real-Time Crime Centers have demonstrated their effectiveness and efficiency," said RPD Chief Rick Edwards. "Whether it is to help lock up violent offenders, assist the Commonwealth Attorney's office in the successful prosecution of offenders, locate firearms held by those not lawfully permitted to possess them, the CCIC will be a force multiplier and act as an 'Air Traffic Controller' for our officers. I am proud to see this project come to fruition and look forward to continuing our work of keeping the public safe."

"The bottom line is we need to do more with less. Across the nation, officers are leaving the profession for various reasons. I have to work leaner and smarter. I must use every tool in the toolbox. Police technology, used and leveraged appropriately, can counter labor shortages, and educating the public on our strategic plan to reduce crime in our city improves public trust," said Chief Edwards.

The City of Richmond plans to provide information sessions in the new year on the Capital City Intelligence Center.

Original source can be found here.