Anne Arundel County opens Real-Time Information Center to help fight crime

The Anne Arundel County Police Department announced Tuesday that they have opened their Real-Time Information Center in an effort to enhance public safety and revolutionize crime prevention. 

What's the purpose? 

How It Will Help:

According to the police department, the center will serve as a central hub to analyze and share information in real-time, so police can respond to incidents rapidly. 

"We invested in the new Real Time Information Center because we knew it would be a game-changer for public safety in Anne Arundel County," said County Executive Pittman. "Equipping first responders with real-time data and technology helps save lives by giving our first responders the tools they need to act faster and more effectively."

The police department says the center will use advanced technology, including real-time situational awareness platforms, CCTV and other security cameras, license plate readers and data analytics to monitor critical incidents and provide officers with instant, actionable intelligence. 

"The technology our Real-Time Information Center provides, places immediate access to critical, potentially life-saving information within our police officers’ purview, enhancing their ability to safeguard Anne Arundel County. This is 21st century innovative, smart policing at its finest," said Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal E. Awad.

What you can do to help

Why you should care:

Anne Arundel County community members can also register for "Community Connect," which allows police to know if their home has surveillance cameras. If a crime occurs near their home, the program would allow police ask registered residents to share relevant footage. The program would not allow police access to live residential camera feeds.

Businesses can also participate in Community Connect by either registering their security camera or sharing live video directly with the RTIC during an active incident. 

Police say the RITC will not use facial recognition with any video feeds, nor will it routinely monitor shared community video. 

"The RTIC's opening marks a significant step in the Anne Arundel County Police Department's modernization efforts and its commitment to stronger community partnerships," police department officials said in a press release. "The center will serve as a hub for collaboration among emergency services, local, state, and federal law enforcement, businesses, and the community, ensuring a unified approach to enhancing public safety.' 

A similar example

D.C.'s Real Time Crime Center:

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. opened in April 2024. 

Before the center was opened, it would have taken some time from when the 911 call was made for police to locate where a camera was, obtain the footage and get more information — all in a world where seconds matter. D.C. leaders say the Crime Center streamlines the whole process.

Dispatchers learn where the 911 call is coming from, the Real Time Crime Center can quickly pull up a map and with a few simple clicks, see what cameras are nearby and what they might have captured. 

They can also see if license plate readers are close in case they have a vehicle description and all that information can quickly be relayed to officers in the field so they have an accurate understanding of the situation.

Another component of the center is an expansion of a program called Capital Shield, a public-private partnership between MPD and Kastle Systems, which provides security for many commercial and apartment buildings so MPD can directly access outside-facing cameras on participating buildings in case of an ongoing emergency.

The Source: Anne Arundel County Police Department, FOX 5 reporting

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