How the Modesto Police Department uses integrated data to power its mobile real-time information center

KEY IDEAS:

• The Modesto Police Department operates Sky 1, a fixed-wing aircraft that serves as a mobile real-time information center (RTIC), where personnel previously had to manually search across disconnected systems.
• Without access to integrated, real-time data, tactical flight officers faced information overload and delays in identifying time-sensitive intelligence.
• By unifying data from systems like CAD, ALPR, and aerial video, Modesto PD created a single, mobile-friendly operational picture.
• With unified data, Sky 1 personnel can access timely, actionable intelligence in seconds, improving situational awareness and coordination.

💡 MODESTO POLICE DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE:

Location: Modesto, California

Established: 1911

Population: Approx. 220,592

Sworn count: Approx. 211

Total personnel: Approx. 370

Sources: Modesto Police Department, Modesto Police Historical Society, U.S. Census

MODESTO, Calif. — Due to staffing shortages and budget constraints, the Modesto Police Department struggled to maintain a 24/7 real-time information center (RTIC) on the ground. Assistant Chief Ivan Valencia collaborated with other agency leaders to address that challenge, ultimately landing on an innovative solution: Sky 1, an RTCC in the sky.

When the department’s terrestrial RTIC isn’t live, Sky 1 — a fixed-wing aircraft — flies to provide coverage. Without access to integrated data, personnel on the aircraft experience cognitive overload as they source information from disconnected systems.

“Our tactical flight officer is a sworn officer in Sky 1 alongside a civilian pilot,” Valencia explained. “The TFO is responsible for manning the camera, answering the radio, and giving people on the ground the situational awareness they need to respond to emergencies effectively. The last thing they have time to do is log into different systems and flip between tabs to get the data they need.”

READ MORE → Modesto Police Department: Integrating Mobile Technology To Keep Patrol Officers Safe

To increase awareness and efficiency, Modesto PD implemented Peregrine onboard Sky 1. Using Peregrine, Modesto PD integrates data from disparate sources such as:

• Automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems
• Automatic vehicle location (AVL) information
• Computer-aided dispatch (CAD) data
• Video footage from the aircraft itself

Now, personnel can quickly identify timely, actionable insights, instead of spending minutes searching through multiple data sources.

🔎 HOW DOES DATA INTEGRATION SUPPORT A MOBILE REAL-TIME INFORMATION CENTER?

• Connects data across systems like CAD, ALPR, AVL, and aerial video into a single view
• Surfaces time-sensitive intelligence without requiring personnel to switch between systems
• Reduces cognitive load for tactical flight officers in high-pressure environments
• Improves situational awareness and communication between mobile RTIC and officers on the ground

“Peregrine solved that problem immediately,” Valencia said. “With a single query in Peregrine, our TFO can now access well-organized information in a single pane of glass. Peregrine means clearer information and faster communications between Sky 1 and officers on the ground.”

The California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) covered this story in its winter magazine. Read the full CPCA article to learn more.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAY: By unifying data, the Modesto Police Department enables its mobile real-time information center to deliver timely intelligence faster, improving situational awareness, communication, and incident response.