Brothers - MPD Major, Jim Harvey (technology manager),on the left and MPD Technical Consultant, John Harvey - on the right, give the media a rundown on the capabilities of the new RTCC.
MEDIA RELEASE April 16, 2008
MPD UNVEILS REAL TIME CRIME CENTER
The Memphis Police Department announced the opening of its Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), a high-tech facility that will be used to identify crime patterns in real time and provide valuable information to police on the scene of an incident.
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and the Command Staff unveiled the Real Time Crime Center during a press conference at 3:30 pm, Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Also, present at the news conference was Major Jim Harvey (Technology Manager), Sergeant Ken Shackleford (Enterprise Security Manager) and the RTCC’s technical consultant, Mr. John Harvey.
The Memphis Police Department announced the opening of its Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), a high-tech facility that will be used to identify crime patterns in real time and provide valuable information to police on the scene of an incident.
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and the Command Staff unveiled the Real Time Crime Center during a press conference at 3:30 pm, Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Also, present at the news conference was Major Jim Harvey (Technology Manager), Sergeant Ken Shackleford (Enterprise Security Manager) and the RTCC’s technical consultant, Mr. John Harvey.
“This is a major accomplishment in the city that will make a big difference in how police fight crime,” said Police Director Larry Godwin. “Its powerful technology, combined with the Blue CRUSH™ initiative will make Memphis a safer city.”
The plans for opening a real-time crime center here in the city were launched after a visit to the New York Police Department’s ultra-modern crime center by Director Godwin in December 2006.
Last week, Mayor W.W. Herenton and Director Godwin took a glimpse for the first time inside the Real Time Crime Center upon its final test to deliver real-time data.
“I was impressed with what I saw during my tour of the Real Time Crime Center. This use of technology will help us expedite the way we prevent and fight crime in Memphis. It also sends a message to those who have committed a crime or thinking about committing a crime in Memphis to think twice,” said Mayor W.W. Herenton.
An important component of the RTCC will be CyberWatch, which was developed by the Memphis Police Department to provide useful information to the citizens to make our neighborhoods safer. Citizens who register with MPD’s CyberWatch program can receive daily email reports about reported crimes, sex offenders, and fugitives in a designated reporting radius based on an address or intersection. An individual can email the investigator about a particular case and send a tip to Crime Stoppers.
The RTCC’s technical consultant, Mr. John Harvey said, “To those who want to be a criminal, you've been given fair warning.”
QUICK FACTS on the Memphis Police Department REAL TIME CRIME CENTER:
•RTCC will be completely staffed and operational by Memphis in May.
•RTCC staff members will be highly-skilled police officers.
•The center will be opened 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
•The crime center was built at the cost of less than 3.5 million dollars.
•$1.6 million of the $3.5 million is grant funded.
•RTCC is equipped with forty-two (42) 50” rear-projection display screens and twenty (20) computer work stations.
•The video wall can process multiple video signals to include broadcast and cable channels, live real-time CCTV video and computer displays.
•The computerized crime center will allow RTCC staff members to search several databases to obtain information on a particular location, person or vehicle within minutes instead of several hours or days.
•The Real Time Crime Center will be the core component of the MPD’s continuous homeland security efforts with connection to the State Fusion Center.
•The crime center’s video surveillance system will monitor gunshot detection cameras that automatically detect gunshots, alert police of the location and aid investigators with forensic details.
•Audio and video surveillance can be monitored and recorded at the RTCC with 360 degree camera coverage and up to several thousand feet utilizing the “SkyCop” camera system.
•Linked to the RTCC will be “Fixed and Mobile License Plate Recognition” cameras with capabilities of reading and detecting license plates of vehicles that are stolen, associated with a felony crime or wanted party, or connected to a broadcast such as an Amber Alert.
•Disparate video surveillances at city and county schools, college campuses and parking garages can be monitored at the RTCC.
•Citizens and businesses will be able to register their web cameras with the RTCC, so the MPD can access and view them if necessary.
•The RTCC will facilitate inter-agency cooperation by allowing other law enforcement agencies to send officers to be trained to use the RTCC’s technology. Any law enforcement agency within the Memphis Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) will be able to use the facility and its resources.
•The RTCC will have a “public access” Crime Ticker that will scroll the previous 24 hours of reported crime, which will be updated every 10 minutes. This data will not be in real time for public view, due to security issues.
•The RTCC will run automated, computerized searches, which will pre-package research information relative to: people, places, and things which are the focus of criminal investigations. That package will then be forwarded to an analyst for further research.
•The webpage prototype for Memphis Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center’s can be viewed by the public at https://kiosk.memphispolice.org/realtime/.
•To register for CyberWatch, log on to the Memphis Police Department website at www.memphispolice.org.
Blue CRUSH™ is a data-driven initiative utilized by the Memphis Police Department, developed in partnership with the University of Memphis Center of Criminology and Research.
Visit the RTCC website at https://kiosk.memphispolice.org/realtime/
10 comments:
I found the Commercial Appeal article online, but unfortunately it doesn't show the photo of you and Major Jim Harvey (congratulations Jim on the promotion from OCU lieutenant -- I've been out of touch too long) that was in the print article. It would be super, John, if you could get that photo and add a link to it in your blogsite. Then if your blog readers missed the print article, they could see you guys in person. Sorta. I couldn't find the picture in the CA archives.
Thanks Clay. Long time no hear from. I got the picture and put it at the top of this blog post. The Harvey Team is on the J.O.B. < G >
Dang, you're cute!!!
Does anybody think this will actually make a difference?
I was wondering when a naysayer would rise up!
Well, yes, we think it will. It was a part of the strategy that helped turn the crime problem around in New York, and it makes sense that it will work here.
It WILL make a difference. Ward cars will now be able to ignore crime more efficiently than ever before!
Until "leadership" starts supporting the street officers and raises morale, all the high tech in the world won't help. You know it. I know it.
Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion.
"God, grant me the serenity...."
I don't think Anon 11:17 was bashing your RTCC...but he does have a point, don't you think?
Oh, I know. He's probably been on the force for more than 10 years, and he's a little upset with the way things are. I've been there, done that . . . .
I think, deep down, he knows the RTCC is a good thing. Good management is also required, but we'll get there.
the RTCC is a good thing.
I absoultely agree.
Good management is also required
Yep.
but we'll get there.
Watching (but not working at) MPD, sometimes I wonder...
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