James Bond-Caliber Crime Center Opens Downtown
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Sean Connery played James Bond in the classic Thunderball.
A new state-of-the-art facility that puts the LAPD one step closer to joining her majesty's secret service opened in downtown Thursday.
The Regional Crime Center has sophisticated computers that collect real-time information about crimes across the city, facilitating investigations and prompting arrests. Among its innovative gadgets are facial recognition software to help identify suspects on security cameras; a GPS tracking system to keep tabs on sex offenders and paroled gang members and a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear sensor system.
During inauguration ceremonies Thursday, LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said, "this is the closest the Los Angeles Police Department has ever come or will ever come to James Bond."
"It is a 24-7/365 brains of the Los Angeles Police Department," said LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.
The LAPD's Real-Time Analysis and Critical Response (RACR) division, which began operations in 2006, will run the new 24/7 crime center.
The 5,000 sq. ft. Regional Crime Center is located in downtown Los Angeles, just a few blocks from RACR's old office in the basement of City Hall. It's found inside the same complex at the city's new 84,000 sq. ft. Emergency Operations Center that sits next to the new Fire Station 4.
All three facilities were funded with Proposition Q funds. The EOC cost $107 million to build.
A recent example of RACR's efficiency occurred when the division monitored a call about a robbery; activated the GPS tracking system to check for possible suspects; found a parolee in the vicinity and alerted the watch commander at the nearest police station. Officers sent to the parolee's home conducted an investigation, arrested him, and then connected him to another robbery.
"Whether it's a gang shooting, a homicide somewhere, an officer- involved shooting, the crime center gives us the information we need to do our job," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
"From a major crime to a catastrophic earthquake, everything starts here," Beck said. "It gives us the ability to always have a running start at these problems and the side benefit is, it gives us an opportunity to direct our crime-fighting effort not only on a citywide basis but also on a regional basis."
