(TALLAHASSEE, FL.) -- The city of Tallahassee recently unveiled the new Capital Region Real-Time Crime Center (CR-RTCC), which will incorporate numerous police organizations.
The crime center has grown to include the Leon County Sheriff’s Office as well as Florida State University(FSU). The real-time crime center incorporates “Connect Tallahassee”, a new registry that promotes sharing security feeds with law enforcement.
Photo Credit: Chief Lawrence Revell flsheriffs.org
"This initiative reflects the future of public safety, where technology, collaboration, and community involvement come together to create a safer environment for everyone."
The registry is voluntary and allows individuals and citizens alike to support the police force. It offers two options, including 24/7 live sharing of security camera footage.
FususCore is a paid option where you use a camera that the city provides and give them access to. The camera gives users the choice of constant sharing or manually switching between sharing and private. Opting for live feed will allow an analyst at the crime center to quickly access cameras during an emergency.
Alternatively, cameras can be registered to Connect Tallahassee without automatically sharing footage. Even without automatically sharing footage, registering cameras still benefits the police department.
By joining the free registry, the Fusus can send automated emails to ask for security footage and expedite local investigations.
The CR-RTCC will have 24/7 staff and share a location with the public safety complex. The crime center is not just to expedite law enforcement-related procedures, but to also provide education.
Similar to FSU Health, the crime center will be accessible to FSU researchers and graduate students.
FSU has entered into several long-term agreements to ensure the functionality of the new crime center.
Fusus is a city-owned platform which has been credited with bringing law enforcement agencies together and helping to make them more efficient. Although Fusus is the technology credited for being the driving force of the crime center belonging to the city, FSU has added its fair share of technology as well.
FSU has Next-Gen 911 support on campus, providing exact GPS coordinates and live video during emergency calls. FSU has also enrolled hundreds of campus cameras in the registry, as well as staffed the crime center.
In combination with its new Emergency Management and Intelligence Studies (EMIS) degree and internship, FSU will be the accountability system for the new initiative.
FSU will perform the audits for the crime center and the technology used. The audits will be both financial and ethical to ensure technology is not being abused, including ethical issues that will need to be consistently addressed. An example of an ethical controversy is how biometric data is collected.
FSU has pushed for the exclusion and limitation of facial recognition in cameras after student surveys were critical of them. By making work summaries public, the goal is to increase transparency between the police department and the community.
The unveiling of the new crime center comes just weeks after Operation Safe Harvest resulted in 20 arrests. Operation Safe Harvest had undercover officers pretend to be minors on social media accounts, which led to dozens of minor-related charges.
Photo Credit: Sheriff Walt McNeil flsheriffs.org
"Those who attempt to exploit children online should know that law enforcement is actively working to find them. Through strong partnerships and proactive enforcement, we will continue doing everything possible to protect children and hold offenders accountable."
If you have any questions or concerns, please comment and email me at jason.f@lead4earth.org.
Comments