Earlier today, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), an initiative launched in 2015 to bolster the department's capabilities to rapidly address crime. The RTCC operates non-stop, lending its support to law enforcement efforts throughout the entire region.
The transformation of SLMPD's operations has been notable since the RTCC became operational, changing up the system to react swiftly to ongoing incidents. According to a statement by Chief Robert Tracy, obtained by the SLMPD press release, "The Real-Time Crime Center has transformed the way the SLMPD protects and serves our community.” Tracy provided details on the center’s impact, mentioning, “The detectives assigned to the RTCC provides law enforcement personnel real-time intelligence that helps build a safer St. Louis."
Starting with a network of around 140 cameras, the Real-Time Crime Center now has access to a staggering array of nearly 5,000 cameras. This extensive camera network includes both public and federated cameras, painting a comprehensive electronic eye over the region. Similarly, the RTCC augmented its original handful of license plate readers to a current tally of 350, significantly broadening its surveillance and recovery scope.
Such expansions have translated into tangible results over the past decade. The SLMPD announced that the RTCC has been instrumental to successfully facilitate more than 4,800 arrests, resulting in upwards of 11,000 charges. Moreover, the center has played a pivotal role in the recovery of over 3,000 stolen vehicles, underscoring its efficacy in tracking and retrieving lost property thoroughly in real-time.
