The Regional Information and Intelligence Center (RIIC), a collaborative crime fighting hub utilized by both St. Charles County and St. Louis County, recently garnered national acclaim, being named the best in the US by a national association. The RIIC outstripped competition from over 20 other nominees to clinch the Real Time Center of the Year award at the National Real Time Crime Center Association convention in Atlanta last month, as per a statement obtained by SCCMO.org.
Colonel Kurt Frisz of the St. Charles County Police celebrated the recognition, saying, "This award is a reflection of the incredible dedication and hard work our RIIC investigators put in every day." He emphasized the role of the center in actively enhancing community safety and safeguarding officers on the streets. RIIC’s success is partly credited to the swift resolution of crimes, with Sgt. Scott Ronald noting to SCCMO.org, "We get license plate hits, and we put them out to officers that are on the road live, and we can also use the cameras in the region to track them down and provide more real time information."
Last January, the RIIC played a crucial role by coordinating live surveillance footage during an armed crisis in Ferguson. The real time capability of the center has been pivotal in several high-stake incidents, including stopping a vehicle coveted by Las Vegas authorities for a carjacking, resulting in arrests without any physical harm. One standout case Ronald mentioned involved quick DNA analysis from a discarded hat at a crime scene that led to preventing a potential school shooting.
Looking forward, the RIIC aims to extend its real-time surveillance to more schools. An initiative is already in place for emergency use, allowing the RIIC to tap into school surveillance cameras. As Ronald told SCCMO.org, "This is for emergency use... So far, a couple of schools share their cameras with the RIIC, and we can see all the hallways, some exterior cameras, and we can use that to combat any type of threat at a school."
The collaboration at the heart of RIIC's operations encompasses an array of police departments, strengthening ties and bolstering crime resolution efforts across municipal lines. The partnership has led to numerous arrests for crimes ranging from theft to homicide. St. Louis County Police Chief Colonel Kenneth Gregory expressed his pride in the national recognition, stating, "We are incredibly honored to receive this national recognition. It highlights the critical importance of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and, most importantly, helps to ensure the safety and protection of our citizens regionally," as mentioned on the St. Charles County website.
RIIC currently operates out of the St. Louis County Police Headquarters, with plans underway to relocate to a newly constructed facility proximate to Dorsett and Lindbergh. St. Charles County and St. Louis County have both made concerted efforts to provide this center with the resources and support necessary to make communities safer and more closely monitored in the face of evolving threats. For further details on RIIC and its operations, interested readers can visit SCCMO.org.
