By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
WASHINGTON — The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department unveiled its new real-time crime center to aid investigations and support officers during critical incidents.
During a ribbon cutting on April 8 for the RTCC, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Chief Pamela A. Smith also introduced CameraConnect DC, a program enabling residents and businesses to share their security camera footage with the police.
“Video continues to play a key role in not just allowing us to identify a suspect, but also ensuring the criminal justice ecosystem holds that suspect accountable,” said Smith. “Since Mayor Bowser nominated me to lead the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, I’ve prioritized getting out into the community and meeting people in the neighborhoods and businesses in the city and I’m often asked, ‘How can I help?’ Today, we have a new way for you to help: by providing our Real-Time Crime Center with video.”
The new RTCC, which has been operational since mid-February, is already supporting patrol officers during critical incidents, officials noted in a news release. By gathering and analyzing data from CCTV cameras and emergency calls, the center boosts situational awareness, aids rapid decision-making and enhances crime prevention and response. The center is key in spotting crime patterns, coordinating resources and delivering prompt information to officers, paving the way for more proactive and effective policing.
CameraConnect DC allows residents and businesses to register their doorbell or CCTV cameras with the MPD. Once registered, if a crime happens nearby, the RTCC will request relevant footage to aid investigations. Businesses and commercial entities can also opt to integrate their footage directly with MPD, giving instant access to their cameras in the event of nearby incidents.
In conjunction with the launch of the RTCC, Kastle, a leader in property technology and managed security, announced an expansion of its CapitalShield video surveillance program to bolster the center’s capabilities. The company plans to integrate its current cameras from the CapitalShield network and will also donate an additional 1,000 cameras to enhance CCTV coverage throughout the district.
Kastle started the CapitalShield program in 2015 in partnership with MPD to leverage video camera technology for city safety. This public-private initiative allows commercial property owners and businesses to enhance public safety by giving the MPD direct access to their security cameras. This access facilitates live video streams or smart searches of recorded footage, helping first responders quickly assess and respond to emergencies.
