The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state unveiled its new real-time crime center (RTCC) in early December as part of a countywide effort to respond to crimes faster and more effectively. The RTCC now gives sheriff’s deputies real-time updates on information pulled from various sources including social media feeds, drones, and other agencies’ data systems.

The sheriff’s office leverages Peregrine to integrate the data powering Spokane County’s RTCC, giving deputies a holistic understanding of incidents as they unfold. Commission Chair Mary Kuney told The Spokesman-Review that the RTCC is part of the county’s ongoing investment in public safety.

“We are equipping our sheriff’s office with the state-of-the-art resources, as you can see in this room, that will allow them for real-time data analysis, improved situational awareness for our deputies, and faster response times for our residents,” Kuney said.

Lt. Justin Elliott, who commands the RTCC and oversees the sheriff’s office’s intelligence division, told The Spokesman-Review that the integrated data hub would enable deputies to better identify suspects and suspect vehicles. This could in turn prevent deputy use of force and stops of innocent individuals who match a suspect’s description.

“By doing this, we’re able to be on scene virtually, we’re able to deploy drones and get information from a distance,” Elliot said. “The more we know when that officer makes contact, the more accurate it’s going to be.”

Read The Spokesman-Review's full story here.