(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is taking a leap forward in public safety with the launch of its new Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). This specialized unit, staffed by analysts and detectives, will change how officers respond to calls and conduct investigations by providing real-time information at their fingertips.
Thanks to a cutting-edge technology platform called ‘Fusus’, the RTCC combines data from various sources, including law enforcement databases, department records, and both private and public video streams into a map-based program. This tool enhances officer and community safety, making investigations more efficient and effective.
“The Police Department can’t make this the safest city in the country by ourselves,” said Chief of CSPD, Adrian Vasquez. “It’s got to be partnerships with businesses and with community members out in our neighborhoods.”
How It Works
At the heart of the RTCC’s operations is Fusus, which integrates live drone footage, floor plans, and the real-time positions of first responders. This approach means that when an officer responds to a call, they have immediate access to critical information, improving their situational awareness and overall response capabilities.
“I think back to Planned Parenthood,” Chief Vasquez explained. “During that shooting, we actually had to have somebody come in that knew the camera system, had access to it, and then provide us the link. I remember this taking so long to happen. In this particular case, if we had integrated Planned Parenthood into a system like this, we would be able to access it.”
But CSPD isn’t just working in isolation. The program also encourages community involvement through an initiative called Together COS. This initiative features two main components: Camera Registration and Camera Integration.
Get Involved: Together COS
Camera Registration allows community members and businesses to inform CSPD if they have personal security cameras installed. By signing up, community members can make it easier for officers to conduct follow-up investigations in their neighborhoods. If a crime occurs nearby, officers can reach out to those registered, requesting any relevant footage. It’s important to note that participation is completely voluntary, and registering does not grant CSPD direct access to your cameras.
Camera Integration, aimed primarily at businesses, takes it a step further. With this option, businesses can integrate their security systems with CSPD using Fusus technology. In the event of serious incidents, like an active shooter situation, detectives can access live feeds and recordings, allowing them to react more swiftly and effectively.
“We have reached out to every district in the school and have obtained the majority of our school’s floor plans,” said Doug Trainer, Commander of the CSPD Metro Division. “As you can imagine… officers responding to a critical incident at a school, knowing the floor plan and having that information is absolutely critical.”
Drones as First Responders
Another piece of the RTCC is the introduction of drones as first responders. In certain situations, drones will be dispatched to gather critical information, helping dispatchers assess the nature of emergencies more accurately. This capability not only improves response times but also enhances the safety of both officers and community members by providing vital situational data before personnel arrive on the scene.
With the combination of advanced technology and community collaboration, CSPD aims to create a safer environment for everyone in Colorado Springs.
“Officer safety, citizen safety, efficiencies, all of that is very important to give our officers time back, to make the citizens and the officers safer,” Chief Vasquez said.
The community might remember the Pueblo Police Department launched a similar unit earlier this year, and southern Colorado is not alone as RTCC are expanding across the country.
The National Police Accountability Project is keeping a close eye on departments launching RRTC’s, making sure they are transparent with the community.
“We are an organization of 550 civil rights attorneys,” said Lauren Bonds, Executive Director of the National Police Accountability Project. “We have attorneys all across the country in every state now. In addition to providing support for these civil rights attorneys who are suing police, jails, and prisons, we also co-counsel with them and bring our own lawsuits alongside our members on behalf of people who’ve been harmed by the police and in jails and prisons.”
They say their main concern is that we don’t know a lot about the outcomes of investigations that start or are assisted by RTCC. They are also concerned about the possibility of the center using facial recognition and false matches.
“There are huge racial disparities in those false matches,” Bonds said. “It is a real problem and it’s a problem that has led some states to enact legislation to prevent the use of facial recognition technology, like Maryland.”
While CSPD launched its RTCC, officials responded to these concerns.
“The capabilities would be there, but we do not currently use any type of facial recognition,” Trainer said.
It’s unclear if CSPD will ever use facial recognition, but the Chief believes the RTCC will lower response times and increase safety.
The CSPD crime center is currently staffed by one analyst and three detectives. The team is currently working 40 hours a week, Tuesday through Friday, and starting Jan. 1, 2025, CSPD said more resources will be added to staff the crime center at night. CSPD pays $120,000 a year for the Fusus system.
