Sunday, August 17
With $1M assist from Sen. Reed, new operations center will utilize national best practices from other major cities to elevate public safety
Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. today announced the launch of the City’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), the first of its kind in Rhode Island. This new state-of-the-art operations center, funded by a $1 million federal earmark secured by U.S. Senator Jack Reed, will enhance public safety through state-of-the-art technology, real-time data sharing and advanced analytics.
“Since my first year as Mayor, elevating public safety in every neighborhood has been my top priority. This investment in the Providence’s Real Time Crime Center strengthens our ability to protect neighborhoods and improve quality-of-life for everyone in Providence,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “By equipping our officers with real-time tools and intelligence, we are modernizing our approach to policing and ensuring faster, more coordinated responses that keep our communities safer. I want to thank our federal delegation, particularly Senator Reed for his advocacy and support in securing funding for this important initiative.”
Dozens of other cities, including New York, Hartford and Seattle, have successfully utilized RTCCs to combat crime and protect civil liberties. Providence has already begun public outreach to invite local businesses, community partners and residents to learn more about the RTCC, how the system works and how it safeguards the community as well as personal privacy.
The cutting-edge centralized technology hub is located within the Investigative Bureau’s Major Crimes Unit at the Providence Safety Complex. The RTCC is designed to consolidate intelligence, provide live situational awareness to officers in the field and enable coordinated responses to criminal activity. It can help improve response times, provide split-second information to responding officers, effectively coordinate resources during incidents, and more efficiently solve cases. The City has contracted with Constant Technologies, a Rhode Island-based firm recognized globally for building mission-critical operations centers, and the software infrastructure is powered by Fusus, a national leader in open-platform crime center technology.
“This new law enforcement nerve center will improve public safety and ensure more efficient and effective police response. It adds real-time computing power to help keep the community and officers safe and better coordinate police response during critical incidents. As with any new technology used by law enforcement, balancing public safety, privacy, and civil liberties is paramount and there must be stringent safeguards and oversight. This system will help stop and solve more crimes and ensure law enforcement is accountable to the public,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who secured a $1 million earmark in fiscal year 2023 to fully fund the project. “I commend both Mayor Smiley and Chief Perez for prioritizing public safety and public outreach. Community trust is key to effective policing. I will continue working to deliver federal funding for Providence and all Rhode Islanders.”
Through this new system, Providence Police will integrate multiple sources of data, including license plate readers, 911 call data and private and public security cameras that opt-in. This will allow analysts to generate actionable intelligence in real-time and share it directly with responding officers.
“The Real Time Crime Center is a significant step forward for the Providence Police Department,” said Colonel Oscar L Perez, Jr. “With access to real-time data and advanced technology, our officers can respond more quickly and effectively to incidents. This center will help reduce crime and strengthen our partnership with the community by enhancing transparency and building trust. I want to thank Mayor Smiley for his strong support and commitment to public safety that made this possible.”
Privacy is a top priority in the design and operation of the RTCC, which complies with all local, state and federal laws. It includes strict oversight policies, data retention limits and usage auditing to prevent misuse. Participation in the system is entirely voluntary, with community partners having full control over what video feeds are shared, and access is only granted with their consent. Shared footage is used solely in response to active criminal incidents or public safety emergencies. The RTCC does not conduct 24/7 live surveillance of the community.
Real time crime centers are growing in popularity as more cities and towns transition toward data-driven policing and seek cost-effective technology solutions to police challenges. According to the National Real Time Crime Center Association, there are currently over 300 RTCCs operating or in planned stages of development nationwide. The implementation of the RTCC is part of Mayor Smiley’s broader effort to modernize city services and strengthen community partnerships.
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