Anne Arundel Police launch new surveillance center

The Anne Arundel County Police announced the launch of its Real-Time Information Center during a press conference and ribbon cutting in Millersville. Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photos

A demonstration of the RTIC in operation was performed. The Anne Arundel County Police announced the launch of its state-of-the-art Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) during a press conference and ribbon cutting in Millersville.

The Anne Arundel Police Department launched a new surveillance center in an effort to improve the effectiveness of the investigation process.

Known as the Real-Time Information Center, it was unveiled at the Anne Arundel Police Criminal Investigation Division in Millersville at a news conference Tuesday morning. The center uses security cameras, license plate readers and data analytics to monitor “critical incidents in real-time, providing officers with instant, actionable intelligence,” according to a news release. The $1.5 million program was funded through the county’s fiscal 2024 Capital Improvement Plan.

“It is extraordinary, the degree to which I think this is going to help, not only to the state’s attorney to convict … but for our officers who are out there, often wishing there were more officers. … It’s hard to recruit police officers these days wanting to catch the bad folks, the people that they know have just committed a crime,” Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said.

Lt. Brian Carney, Anne Arundel’s RTIC commander, led a demonstration using footage obtained after a report of a stolen vehicle at a convenience store in Glen Burnie last year. Beginning at the moment of the theft, it followed two suspects to several locations. At the end, the two were taken into custody as they were about to board a light rail train. The legal proceedings are ongoing, according to Carney

“It’s a vital tool, not just for identifying and apprehending suspects, but also for de-escalating potentially dangerous situations, rapidly locating missing or endangered persons and preventing misidentification even potentially exonerating people through the power of video evidence,” Carney said.

Other counties such as Montgomery, Prince George’s, Baltimore and Baltimore City have similar systems in place, according to Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal Awad.

Awad said the new system “does not take the place of our actual police officers. Rather, it supplements and enhances the work our officers are already out there performing every day.” During the testing phase, Awad estimated there were about 200 incidents in which RTIC either helped officers solve crimes or helped de-escalate situations.

“It’s an investment in the safety of our police officers, protecting our community, and demonstration of our commitment to innovation in Anne Arundel County,” she said.

The department also launched “Community Connect ” which allows Anne Arundel County residents and business owners to voluntarily register security cameras with the police department. Businesses can allow the police to view their footage in real time.

RTIC will have access to live body camera footage and act as what Carney called a “virtual partner” if the department determines an officer is in danger.

Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson, who was at Tuesday’s news conference, said he is “a big fan of regionalism” and expressed interest in ways the Annapolis Police Department can use the new information system.

“A lot of times, the people that are of interest to [Annapolis] are of interest to Anne Arundel County. And so, with this type of technology, especially given the times that we’re living in, it’s extremely important that we talk to each other,” he said.

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