What surveillance technology is used in real time crime centers?

A real-time crime center (RTCC) is a hub where law enforcement brings together live and historical data to improve decision-making. Often described as a “single pane of glass” — or even likened to a smartphone — an RTCC integrates multiple technologies into one accessible platform. Just as a smartphone pulls together different apps into an easy-to-navigate tool, an RTCC unifies data streams into an environment tailored to support officers and enhance community safety. Whether you call it an operations center, intelligence hub or information center, the purpose is the same: giving officers and analysts immediate visibility into the information they need to act quickly and effectively.

RTCCs are built for real-time capabilities, enabling operators to detect events as they happen and provide frontline officers with actionable intelligence in seconds. Just as important, they also accelerate post-event investigations by allowing detectives and analysts to rapidly review video, search across video for specific data and connect information that might otherwise take days to uncover.

They can operate as centralized facilities staffed with sworn officers and analysts, or as decentralized platforms where patrol officers and detectives can access RTCC tools directly from the field. This flexibility ensures that both real-time response and investigative follow-up are supported, even when the physical center is not staffed around the clock. 

RTCCs also serve different users in complementary ways:

• Police chiefs and sheriffs use them to direct resources strategically, align with precision policing strategies and demonstrate transparency to their communities. 

• Command staff and analysts rely on them for situational awareness during active incidents and for accelerating post-event investigations by connecting data across multiple systems. 

• Patrol officers gain real-time “digital backup” when analysts monitor body-worn or in-vehicle video during high-risk incidents, and they benefit afterward when video evidence can be quickly reviewed to close cases faster. 
• City leaders and regional task forces view RTCCs as scalable, shareable assets that support both immediate crime response and long-term community safety initiatives. 

Perhaps most importantly, RTCCs are not limited to large metropolitan agencies but are attainable for small departments as well. The real time crime center in Cobb County, Georgia, for instance, began with just one analyst and a handful of traffic cameras. Over time they scaled their RTCC by adding integrations, staffing and partnerships—an approach they describe as “crawl, walk, run.” This model shows how even smaller departments can start modestly and build over time.

Before investing in technology, agencies should start by defining the goals they hope to achieve with a real-time crime center (RTCC). The technology is powerful, but it only delivers value when matched to a clear mission and a plan for how the center will operate. 

Define your “why” 
Every RTCC begins with a purpose. Some agencies launch to improve response to violent crime, while others focus on traffic safety, school security or community nuisance issues like illegal dumping. Establishing priorities upfront helps guide which technologies to deploy first and how success will be measured. A small police department, for example, might prioritize traffic cameras and license plate recognition to recover stolen vehicles, while a larger city may build a multi-agency center designed to coordinate major events. 

Consider staffing models 
Technology is only part of the equation — people make it work. Some RTCCs are staffed by sworn officers, others by civilian analysts and many use a hybrid approach. Civilian hires often bring specialized skills in communications, IT or intelligence analysis, while sworn officers contribute on-the-ground experience. Agencies that define roles early can make smarter staffing choices, ensuring analysts and officers complement one another. Successful hires are often those with qualities like multitasking, calm under pressure and strong analytical thinking — not necessarily prior RTCC experience. 

Build transparency from the start 
Community trust is critical to the long-term success of any RTCC. Agencies that involve citizens early — by holding public meetings, publishing clear policies and inviting feedback — are more likely to earn lasting support. This is especially important when deploying sensitive tools such as face recognition. By engaging the community before rollout, agencies can address concerns, demonstrate responsible use and avoid delays caused by opposition. 

Ultimately, an RTCC is more than a room full of monitors. It is a long-term strategy that should grow with the priorities, resources and values of the community it serves.

No two RTCCs look exactly alike, but every center relies on video management and advanced analytics to function effectively. Together, these technologies create a layered view of the community, helping agencies respond quickly to emerging threats while also accelerating post-event investigations. Milestone supports RTCC operations with two primary product offerings. 

Milestone XProtect serves as the RTCC backbone by centralizing video from diverse sources to give operators a complete picture in one platform. Video sources can include traffic management systems, government facilities, schools, stadiums, body-worn devices, patrol car dashcams and even private business or HOA feeds when partnerships are in place. RTCCs can also extend functionality with tools like Smart Wall, Smart Maps, Video Push and Evidence Lock (see table below). Furthermore, because XProtect is built on an open platform, it integrates seamlessly with critical third-party sensors and weapons detection solutions, giving agencies the flexibility to expand as their needs grow. These combined capabilities give operators situational awareness in real time while also ensuring video evidence is preserved, organized and easy to share for investigations. 

BriefCam analytics provides the intelligence layer that transforms raw video into actionable insights. Capabilities such as face recognition, license plate recognition and Video Synopsis accelerate video review, generate real-time alerts and help surface patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed. These tools enable agencies to confirm suspect identities in robbery cases, track stolen vehicles or condense hours of surveillance into minutes during investigations. This allows RTCC teams to focus on what matters most in the moment while also building stronger investigative cases after the fact. 

The table below highlights how specific XProtect and BriefCam features support both real-time response and post-event investigations:

How XProtect and BriefCam support real-time response and post-event investigations 

Managing large amounts of data also brings challenges. One concern for any RTCC is alarm fatigue — when too many false positives overwhelm operators and reduce effectiveness. Both XProtect and BriefCam help mitigate this risk by allowing agencies to fine-tune detection rules, configure alert thresholds and integrate multiple data sources for cross-verification. While this is an area that continues to evolve, the goal is clear: to surface the most relevant alerts without drowning operators in noise. 

By combining XProtect’s robust video management with BriefCam’s advanced analytics, agencies can build RTCCs that not only respond to incidents in real time but also provide lasting investigative value — while also reducing the burden on limited staff and resources. 

The impact of real-time crime centers becomes clear when looking at how agencies are successfully using them in the field. Let’s look at two different examples that show how RTCCs can improve real-time response and investigative outcomes.

The City of Hartford established its Capital City Command Center (C4) to centralize video and analytics from across the city. Using Milestone XProtect as the backbone and BriefCam analytics for intelligence, Hartford police have dramatically improved both real-time response and investigative outcomes. 

A peer-reviewed study of 243 homicides and nonfatal shootings between January 2022 and December 2023 found that Hartford’s approach — combining cutting-edge technology with skilled personnel and efficient workflows — significantly increased investigative success. When video evidence was included, case solvability for firearm assaults rose by 442percent, making video more effective than DNA or eyewitness testimony in driving case resolution.

This success, however, extends beyond violent crime. Hartford PD has also tackled persistent quality-of-life issues with advanced RTCC technology. In one case, the city deployed cameras and license plate recognition on a street plagued by illegal dumping. Within 24 hours, officers captured footage of a van unloading furniture, identified the rented vehicle and matched it to the driver. Using BriefCam analytics, investigators also filtered footage by object type to connect the incident to similar cases. The results were arrests, restitution, and deterrence against future offenses. 

By leveraging XProtect and BriefCam, Hartford’s RTCC has become more than an investigative hub — it is a driver of smarter policing, cross-agency collaboration and measurable reductions in gun violence. Its model shows how technology can help cities of all sizes close cases faster, protect citizens more effectively, and build lasting community trust. Read more about how Hartford PD is using their RTCC to solve community challenges here. 

Cobb County, Georgia, provides a model of how an RTCC can grow over time through strategy, partnerships and transparency. The county’s real-time crime center began with just one analyst and a small set of traffic cameras, but over time it has expanded into a scalable, multi-faceted operation that supports both real-time response and investigations. 

In an exclusive BriefCam webinar, Captain Darin Hull explained that traffic management cameras proved valuable from the start. The RTCC used state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) feeds to solve many serious crimes, including fatal hit-and-runs and homicides, showing that even limited video resources can deliver significant impact. As the center expanded, license plate recognition (LPR) became a cornerstone. Now, fixed and mobile readers allow operators to identify suspect vehicles quickly, while partnerships with homeowners’ associations, retail centers and other private organizations have extended coverage without adding significant cost to the county. 

Cobb’s RTCC also demonstrates the importance of community trust. From the outset, leaders prioritized transparency by hosting public meetings and working with organizations like the NAACP to address concerns around LPR and other surveillance tools. Surveys conducted before and after these outreach efforts showed community support rising from skepticism to more than 90 percent approval. 

Like Hartford, Cobb relies on its RTCC for both real-time and post-event functions. Analysts provide “digital backup” by monitoring incidents as they unfold and relaying information to officers in the field. Afterward, the same systems help detectives connect evidence across cases to accelerate investigations and improve outcomes. 

By starting small, demonstrating results and scaling responsibly — Cobb County has built a real-time crime center that is both effective and sustainable. Its experience highlights how agencies of all sizes can launch an RTCC, prove value quickly and expand capabilities as resources allow.

Real-time crime centers are reshaping how agencies protect their communities by delivering faster responses in the moment and stronger outcomes in investigations. From Hartford’s measurable success in solving violent crime to Cobb County’s scalable growth model, the results speak for themselves. 

Looking ahead, AI-powered analytics and regional RTCC models will make these capabilities even more accessible, especially for smaller jurisdictions. What will remain constant is the need to balance innovation with transparency to ensure continued public trust. 

Ready to explore RTCC solutions? Contact us today to learn how Milestone can support your mission.