Special Reports
Ogden Area Tactical Analysis Center
Since 2011, the Ogden Police Department has operated the Area Tactical Analysis Center, which is currently located in the Public Safety Building near Ogden’s historic downtown district. Despite being a relatively small city (population 87,000 as of 2018), Ogden’s ATAC uses a wide array of surveillance technologies, including a citywide network of more than a thousand cameras, camera trailers, automated license plate readers, crime data analysis and mapping software, and advanced imaging software. At one point In ATAC’s infancy, OPD attempted to deploy a surveillance blimp over the city, but the plan was terminated.
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Sacramento Real-Time Crime Center
Housed in the Central Command Police Facility, the Sacramento Real-Time Crime Center utilizes a combination of crime data aggregation, gunshot detection technology, automated license plate readers, cameras spread throughout the city, and a wall filled with large video monitors coupled with numerous work-stations.
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San Diego County, California
With a population of 3.3 million (larger than the state of New Mexico), San Diego County is the most populous county along the U.S.-Mexico border. San Diego shares approximately 60 miles of the border, with the San Ysidro Port of Entry as the busiest border crossing in the country. The two largest law enforcement agencies are the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, with the latter also providing contract policing services to smaller municipalities in unincorporated...
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Pima County, Arizona
The second largest county in Arizona, Pima County shares approximately 123 miles of its southern border with Mexico, 60% of which is part of the Tohono O'odham Nation. The U.S. Census estimates Pima County’s population at about 1-million residents, with more than half living in the Tucson metropolitan area. In addition to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, there are 10 police departments serving municipalities, colleges, and the airport. Law enforcement in the region deploy a variety of surveillan...
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Cochise County, Arizona
Located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, Cochise County shares approximately 84 miles of its border with Mexico. The U.S. Census estimates Cochise County’s population at about 131,346 residents with about 43,888 of the residents living in the city of Sierra Vista. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Department and the Sierra Vista Police Department are the most notable law enforcement agencies in the county. Law enforcement agencies in the region deploy various surveillance technologies, includin...
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Doña Ana County, New Mexico
Doña Ana County in New Mexico shares approximately 45 miles of its southern border with Mexico and is adjacent to the El Paso/Juarez metropolitan area known as the “Borderplex.” The U.S. Census estimates the population of Doña Ana County at 217,522, making the county the second most populous in the state with approximately half the residents living in the city of Las Cruces. The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Sunland Park Police Department, and the Las Cruces Police Department are the most si...
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El Paso County, Texas
As the sixth largest county in the state of Texas, El Paso County shares approximately 47 miles of its southern border with Mexico. The U.S. Census estimates El Paso County’s population at 840,758 residents with about 682,669 living in the city of El Paso. The city is contiguous with Juarez, Mexico; the two municipalities together make up a metropolitan area known as the “Borderplex.” The El Paso County Sheriff’s Department and the El Paso Police Department are the most notable law enforcement agencies...
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Webb County, Texas
The sixth largest county in the state and the largest county in South Texas in terms of land, Webb County shares approximately 100 miles of its border with Mexico. The U.S. Census estimates Webb County’s population at about 276,000 residents with about 262,000 of the residents living in the city of Laredo, making Laredo the third most populated city along the U.S.-Mexico border. Webb County Sheriff’s Department and Laredo Police Department are the most notable law enforcement agencies in the county. ...
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Albuquerque Real-Time Crime Center
The Albuquerque Police Department launched the Albuquerque Real-Time Crime Center in 2013. As part of APD’s overall predictive policing strategy, the RTCC uses a combination of public and private cameras, face recognition databases, and social media monitoring software.
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New Orleans Real-Time Crime Center
The New Orleans Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness operates the New Orleans Real-Time Crime Center. Founded in 2017, the RTCC uses a range of technologies, including automated license plate readers, gunshot detection sensors, and more than 340 cameras citywide. Residents are also encouraged to register their personal security cameras with the RTCC.
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Atlanta Loudermilk Video Integration Center
The Atlanta Police Department’s Loudermilk Operation Shield Video Integration Center —is a video surveillance program integrating both private and public cameras. The VIC has received more than $5 million in funding from various sources and combines access to automated license plate readers, predictive policing software, and real-time feeds from approximately 12,800 cameras.
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Detroit Real-Time Crime Center
Housed in the City of Detroit's Public Safety headquarters downtown, the Detroit Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center combines a camera network, face recognition software, automated license plate readers, and a variety of other criminal justice data systems.
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Miami Gardens Real-Time Crime Center
The Miami Gardens Real-Time Crime Center, completed in August 2016, was created by the city in partnership with the private vendor CineMassive. The RTCC features technologies such as video surveillance cameras, automatic license plate readers, gunshot detection, and crime analytics on a single, real-time visualization platform.
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Fresno Real-Time Crime Center (Suspended)
Fresno Real-Time Crime Center Fresno Police Department Fresno, California NOTE: Fresno's RTCC operations were suspended in 2020 due to staffing and budget shortages. This included ending live monitoring of Fresno's Video Policing Program, although footage can be obtained by detectives after a crime has occured. This case study was drafted prior to the news that the program was shut down. FPD has indicated it may restart the program in the future. Source: Fresno Police Department Over...
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Scholars Under Surveillance: How Campus Police Use High Tech to Spy on Students
By Dave Maass and Hailey Rodis The report will be updated periodically with responses from university officials. These updates will be noted in the text. It may be many months before college campuses across the U.S. fully reopen, but when they do, many students will be returning to a learning environment that is under near constant scrutiny by law enforcement. A fear of school shootings, and other campus crimes, have led administrators and campus police to install sophisticated surveillance systems...
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