Real-time crime centers (RTCCs) make a clear impact on an agency’s internal goals. They also make it easier to collaborate with external organizations on shared goals, such as investigating cross-jurisdictional crime or developing data-informed strategies to solve widespread issues. When agencies can seamlessly share real-time data, insights, and resources, their efforts are more effective.

Read on to learn how real-time crime center connections promote collaboration in law enforcement.

How does a real-time crime center connect public agencies?

An RTCC provides a centralized hub that streamlines operations, communication, and dozens of data inputs, such as live video feeds, license plate recognition (LPR) systems, and gunshot detection systems. Any new incident requiring law enforcement collaboration might involve emergency response, a neighboring police department, county law enforcement, or the fire department. It’s up to RTCC personnel to quickly process incoming data, direct responses, call for backup, and alert relevant agencies.

RTCCs also bring together different departments, including dispatch, crime analysis, investigations, and IT. Depending on the setup, partner agencies might have a physical or virtual representation, too. Multiple agencies may work together to stand up a real-time operations center to coordinate emergency responses or large-scale event security.

How do real-time crime center connections improve interagency collaboration?

RTCCs represent a commitment to modern, data-driven policing, and they often incorporate advanced technology to synthesize their real-time and historical data inputs. RTCCs also rely on well-trained staff and clear procedures. Together, these technical and interpersonal components serve as a catalyst for better interagency coordination.

Real-time communication

In emergency scenarios, RTCC personnel rely on up-to-the-minute information to coordinate efficient responses among involved public safety agencies. They have access to external real-time data and agency-specific information, such as officers’ GPS locations.

If dispatch receives a 911 call related to a stolen vehicle, for example, RTCC personnel can access nearby CCTV footage, search against LPR data, and use that information to track the suspect’s direction. They can then flag a nearby patrol deputy and alert a neighboring jurisdiction of the pursuit.

Easier data sharing

When partner agencies share data with each other, RTCC personnel have access to more valuable context to inform more comprehensive views of situations and suspects. To enable real-time data sharing, many RTCCs rely on data integration platforms to ingest, unify, analyze, and visualize disparate datasets both within and between participating partner agencies.

Seamless data sharing ensures all involved agencies share a common operating picture — which is especially crucial in emergency management, where outdated or delayed data can have deadly consequences. When all agencies have access to the same up-to-date information, leaders can direct informed, coordinated action.

Practiced communication

Cross-disciplinary RTCCs help agencies break down internal and external silos, creating an ongoing opportunity to build stronger relationships through shared wins. Agencies also develop standard operating procedures to determine how RTCC personnel receive and direct information. That practice reduces communication pain points in time-sensitive scenarios.

Promoting proactive policing

Real-time insights are used to analyze crime trends and gather data on complex issues within a community. With more useful information, public safety leaders can come together to plan proactive solutions that address the root causes of crime.

What are the benefits of interagency collaboration?

Interagency collaboration takes many forms. For example, two sheriff’s departments could work together to tackle organized crime that crosses county lines. Multiple city, county, and private entities might coordinate and oversee security for large-scale public events. Or a local police department could share data and resources with social services to address increasing overdoses in a particular area.

Streamlined data sharing gives agencies a more holistic understanding of crime trends, response efforts, and shared priorities. By working together, agencies can increase their efficiency, optimize their resource allocation, and execute data-informed strategic responses. Interagency collaboration brings together diverse perspectives, strengths, and approaches, ultimately keeping communities safer through timely efforts. Consider a few benefits of communication in law enforcement below.

Faster response times

Whether officers are responding to a standard call for service or a large-scale emergency, every second counts. When agencies coordinate, they can respond quickly and efficiently to prevent and stop crimes. For example, RTCC analysts might monitor officers’ GPS locations to direct resources to the right location, find backup, or alert nearby personnel of potential safety concerns.

Easier access to lead generation for investigations

Crime doesn’t follow jurisdictional lines. That means key information for a case might be split between multiple agencies’ datasets, with no way for personnel to draw connections between them. Without data sharing, no single agency has the complete picture.

In comparison, collaboration leads to faster investigations. Connected agencies might invest in a unified data integration platform, which allows them to opt into sharing certain datasets. In turn, investigators and RTCC analysts can leverage shared sources and real-time insights to find leads, uncover obscure connections, and speed up investigations.

Reduced duplicate efforts and improved efficiency

Efficient coordination and data sharing allow agencies to optimally allocate resources. When all agencies share a common operating picture, they have a better understanding of how their resources are being used and where their efforts overlap. As a result, they can coordinate more strategic outreach, support, and investigations.

Lower risk of miscommunication at critical moments

Dynamic communication of real-time data is a vital aspect of disaster response and emergency management. Continual collaboration establishes solid connections between public safety agencies, and when those high-pressure scenarios arise, personnel are already familiar with the right contacts, communication methods, and secure data sharing policies.

Improved internal data management capabilities

When agencies invest in unified data systems and real-time operations, they improve their internal capabilities. Advanced integration platforms clean and harmonize an agency’s disparate datasets, allowing personnel to make full use of the data they have access to. Data integration technology also bolsters security, with guardrails for compliance and government regulations.

Example of successful interagency collaboration

At the Concord Police Department, real-time insights and data integration enabled multiple jurisdictions to coordinate and apprehend a serial bank robbery suspect whose crimes crossed agency lines. To solve the case, police first secured a warrant for the location of the suspect’s cell phone, confirming they were at multiple banks when the robberies occurred.

The agency then used Peregrine, which powers the Concord PD’s RTCC, to create a map pinpointing the suspect’s mobile pings, locations of personnel monitoring the suspect, ALPR data, and other useful information. Through Peregrine, the agency was able to securely share that dynamic visualization with involved jurisdictions. That made it possible to coordinate and safely apprehend the suspect.

What are the challenges of interagency collaboration?

While cross-jurisdictional coordination has clear benefits, it isn’t always easy to achieve. Personnel may be reluctant to share information due to distrust between agencies, government regulations, or security concerns. When agencies do work together, their competing priorities could create bottlenecks.

From a technical standpoint, agencies often struggle with siloed data sources within their own departments, which only becomes more complex when they want to share data externally. With incompatible technology, it’s difficult to make meaningful comparisons across disparate datasets.

However, advanced real-time technology and data integration solutions help break down those silos, streamlining communication, promoting collaboration, and increasing efficiency. With platforms like Peregrine, agencies can fully action real-time data, opt into external data sharing with granular permissions, and work proactively toward shared goals.

Improve real-time collaboration for your agency

Effective RTCCs are a key component to successful interagency collaboration, providing the tools and intelligence to coordinate effective responses. By bringing together separate data sources and diverse personnel, RTCCs promote faster investigations, reduced redundancy, and more effective efforts. To learn how Peregrine improves RTCC operations, secure data sharing, and interagency communication, contact us today.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about RTCCs and interagency collaboration

How can a real-time crime center help improve interagency collaboration?

RTCCs provide a centralized space to process and communicate time-sensitive information. RTCCs promote real-time communication, easier data sharing, and proactive policing.

What are the benefits of interagency collaboration for public safety agencies?

Interagency collaboration leads to faster response times, more efficient investigations, more informed resource allocation, and safer communities.

What are the traditional challenges to interagency collaboration, and how is new technology solving them?

Agencies may struggle with incompatible technology, competing priorities, security concerns, and distrust between jurisdictions. Advanced technology, such as shared data integration platforms, make it easier to share data securely and coordinate more effectively.