News Summary
Providence, Rhode Island, has initiated a new Real Time Crime Center to improve crime response efficiency. Utilizing live feeds from public and private cameras, the program aims to enhance community safety. With technology from Axon Fusus, the center consolidates various security sources, enabling faster police responses and real-time data sharing. Supported by federal funding, the initiative faces scrutiny from civil liberties groups, with measures in place to ensure privacy protection. This advancement marks a significant step in modern policing for Providence.
Providence, Rhode Island has launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing its crime response capabilities—the Real Time Crime Center. This center allows the Providence Police Department to access live feeds from both private and public surveillance cameras. The primary goal of this program is to gather “actionable” information that can lead to quicker and more efficient crime responses.
The Real Time Crime Center will utilize a police surveillance technology known as Fusus, marking Providence as the first city in Rhode Island to implement such an operations center. Mayor Brett Smiley emphasized that this modern system is designed to improve policing and ensure faster, coordinated responses to incidents aimed at enhancing community safety.
This innovative crime center integrates various security sources, including security cameras, license plate readers, body cameras, and data from 911 calls. By consolidating these resources, the police can share real-time information with officers responding to incidents, facilitating a more integrated approach to crime response.
Currently, 21 private citizens and businesses have voluntarily registered their cameras to assist law enforcement, contributing a total of 145 cameras. In addition, there are 145 city-owned cameras also linked to the system. There are currently six pending applications from residents who wish to connect their private cameras to the platform, demonstrating growing community engagement in public safety efforts.
The city has entered a contract with Arizona-based company Axon Fusus, committing $750,000 to operate the system at least until July 2028, with provisions for automatic renewals. Support for the operations center will also come from another vendor, Constant Technologies, although detailed contract information regarding this partnership has not been made available yet.
Funding for the Real Time Crime Center is derived from a $1 million federal earmark that was secured in 2023 by U.S. Senator Jack Reed. This funding is intended to bolster law enforcement capabilities while emphasizing the importance of balancing public safety with civil liberties. Senator Reed has highlighted the necessity of oversight in the use of this technology.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has expressed concerns regarding potential surveillance abuses associated with the program. They are in the process of drafting a letter to detail their apprehensions about the initiative and are advocating for specific safeguards outlining the usage of police surveillance technologies.
In response to these concerns, Providence police have stated that the footage gathered will only be utilized in response to active incidents or emergencies. Continuous monitoring of the cameras will not occur, ensuring that privacy concerns are addressed. The Real Time Crime Center is expected to be staffed for 16 hours daily, providing a dedicated team to manage and analyze the incoming data and surveillance feeds.
This new program represents a significant advancement in the application of technology in law enforcement in Providence, with hopes to elevate public safety measures in the city. By leveraging community resources and technological advancements, Providence aims to set a precedent for modern policing practices while navigating the complexities of civil liberties and privacy.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- ABC6 News: ACLU Asks for Ordinance on Invasive Surveillance System
- Wikipedia: Surveillance
- Rhode Island Current: Providence Opens R.I.’s First Real-Time Crime Center
- Google Search: Providence Real Time Crime Center
- Turn to 10 News: Garden City Center Shooting
- Google Scholar: Real Time Crime Center
- Uprise RI: Lawsuit Challenges the Legality of Surveillance Cameras
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Crime
- NBC Boston: Providence Girl Shooting Surveillance Video
- Google News: Providence Crime News
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
