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Dutchess County is set to launch a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) at the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Center in Poughkeepsie. The center, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year, will serve as a hub for law enforcement to monitor video feeds and other technology to respond to active and evolving crime situations quickly and efficiently. The Dutchess County Legislature has approved a $200,000 grant to launch the RTCC, and the county's District Attorney has secured an additional $1.2 million in federal funding to cover recurring operating costs for the next two years.
County Executive Sue Serino, District Attorney Anthony Parisi, and Sheriff Kirk Imperati announced the creation of the RTCC. In a statement, Serino said, "The RTCC will be a true game-changer for speed of response and police safety. This cutting-edge initiative leverages technology for faster, more effective law enforcement response to protect our communities."
The RTCC will be staffed by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Special Operation Bureau, along with a Crime Analyst from the District Attorney’s Office. Other area law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, will also have personnel at the RTCC.
The center will merge data from live video, cameras, license plate readers, body cameras worn by law enforcement, audio detection, and other tools into a single cloud-based operational view to provide enhanced visibility and unified situational awareness. This unified view will help ensure appropriate law enforcement can respond more swiftly to incidents, in some cases potentially preventing crimes before they escalate.