Fort Worth is stepping up its game in public safety with the Citywide Camera Project, aiming to deter crime and aid law enforcement by strategically placing over 1,200 security cameras throughout the city. The initiative, which plays a key role in crime prevention and investigation, is paired with the city's Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). These eyes in the sky, including high-tech pan-tilt-zoom and license plate reader cameras, give police real-time data to act swiftly on unfolding events. According to the City of Fort Worth, this approach has improved response times and saved Fort Worth over $1.5 million in 2024, compared to buying the cameras from vendors.
The decision-making behind where to place these cameras is not made lightly, with the Fort Worth Police Department weekly reviewing crime trends to decide strategically where to intervene. The city's technologically equipped members have also built and maintained their cameras, managing to quickly adapt and execute over 1,600 deployments, extractions, and repairs last year.
This allows more effective place cameras in violent crime hotspots or in well-trodden areas like West Seventh Street, the Stockyards, and Will Rogers Memorial Center – essential during crowded events where safety needs to be magnified.
