The City of New Orleans wanted a platform that would enable greater inter-agency collaboration, as well as centralised data-gathering and coordination to help first responders protect the community while delivering strong returns on the city’s investments.
To achieve this, former Mayor Mitch Landrieu and current Mayor Latoya Cantrell helped the city of New Orleans create and operate the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which opened in 2017. The centre was part of a $40 million citywide public safety improvement plan.
To bring the vision of the RTCC to life, New Orleans implemented Motorola Solutions’ Commandcentral Aware software, integrating with other Motorola Solutions products including Premierone computer-aided dispatch(CAD), Astro 25 land-mobile radio (LMR) infrastructure and APX mobile and portable radios.
Commandcentral Aware integrates real-time intelligence in the command centre, enabling a single technician to monitor voice, data and video while sharing critical information with officers in the field. The RTCC uses cameras, license plate readers and software to integrate real-time intelligence from a variety of sources. A technician can monitor incoming radio calls on a map and review comments from dispatch while watching a live view of cameras in the area of the call location.
As a result, the RTCC saves time for first responders. For example, with access to live or recorded video, officers can see which party is responsible for a car crash – saving time that would be required to conduct one-on-one interviews. “We have seen the centre, in real time, prevent crimes from happening,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “We’ve seen how it’s allowed us to solve and clear cases. This is a holistic approach to improving the overall quality of life in the City of New Orleans, and that will grow. We’ve only scratched the surface.”
New Orleans recently won a “Smart Cities North America Award” by International Data Corporation (IDC) Government Insights for Police & Law Enforcement, and Emergency Management. The awards recognise progress in North American communities in executing Smart Cities projects.
Officers say having Commandcentral Aware as a “one-stop shop” for video security and related data has eliminated the need to drive around the city to obtain video evidence, saving significant amounts of time. In 2018, the RTCC fielded over 3,200 requests for assistance from public safety agencies, provided relevant footage for 70% of requests and saved an estimated 3,000+ in NOPD manpower hours. During the 12-day Mardi Gras celebration, it assisted in more than 50 cases and every camera deployed recorded at least one incident.
