Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC)

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The Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) supports the response to active emergencies and/or criminal investigations. Staff also assists with crime analysis requests.

The RTOC will provide incident commanders and crime analysts with coordinated access to information to make more timely and effective decisions, increasing the safety for officers, suspects and the entire community. The intent of the RTOC is to help in the safe and effective response to emergencies and criminal investigations by providing a single platform with real-time information. For example, the RTOC is expected to provide incident commanders with quick access to GPS data about the location of first responders, an overhead view of an incident scene from our Drone as First Responder program, and the ability to hear incoming 911 calls in real time. The RTOC is intended to be a hub for the safe and effective management of public safety operations and criminal investigations.

RTOC Operational Status

In 2020, the Police Department began construction of the RTOC to support emergency operations and criminal investigations. Staff within the RTOC will also assist with crime analysis requests.

The RTOC is currently in the final stages of implementation and is not fully operational. The RTOC has yet to install the Motorola Command Central Aware software that will facilitate the ability to combine real-time information in a cohesive format for staff to utilize in decision making.

RTOC Functionality

During normal operations, the RTOC is a central hub for crime and disorder data and reporting. This allows for the:

Flexibility to leverage the team’s knowledge base
Faster reaction time when requests are made
Deconfliction of projects and requests

During an incident/crisis, the RTOC functions as the command hub to assist with operations. This allows for the:

Reduction of traffic and distractions from the Watch Commander, freeing them to coordinate operations
Centralization of multi-disciplinary personnel and analysts to expedite the flow of information

RTOC Content

When implemented, the RTOC will only have access to pre-existing information already in-use by the Police Department. No new sources of data are provided by the RTOC.

Pre-existing content includes:

Live 911 – livestreaming 911 calls as they are coming in
Local/international media channels
Police radio communications
Publicly accessible social media posts
Dashboards displaying crime trends and statistics
Video feed from our Drone as First Responder (DFR) program
Officer awareness content, such as BOLOs
Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) status log – showing active calls for service

Quick Links

Presentation to the CAC - October 7, 2021

Staff Report, Council Meeting - December 1, 2020

Staff Presentation to the Technology & Privacy Advisory Task Force - June 2, 2022

Q&A from the Technology & Privacy Advisory Task Force - June 2, 2022

FAQs

Does the RTOC use surveillance?

No. The RTOC can display the video feed from the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. The intent of the DFR program is to enhance CVPD’s response to emergency calls for service. As such, drones are used during an active response to an emergency or other call for police assistance. CVPD policy prohibits drone operators from intentionally recording or transmitting images of any location where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as inside private buildings, except where authorized by a warrant issued by a judge or in emergency situations. Click here to learn more about the DFR program.

Does the RTOC have access to ALPR data?

Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) data is considered confidential by state law and is restricted to use by law enforcement for official purposes. CVPD staff who have been trained in the ALPR system, including sworn and specific civilian staff (i.e., dispatch and crime analysts), may access ALPR data for official law enforcement purposes. Each user has a unique and secure log in credential and any search of the data must include the reason for searching (case number, call for service number, crime description etc.). Click here to learn more about ALPR data access.

In regard to whom we share data with, per the per California Senate Bill 34, ALPR data can only be shared with other law enforcement agencies. Click here to view the current list of all the law enforcement agencies that we share ALPR data with, and who we receive data from. Please note that we only share data to law enforcement agencies located within the state of California, and do not share with ICE and CBP.

Does the RTOC use predictive policing?

Does the RTOC use facial recognition?

How will my privacy be protected?

In 2017, the City of Chula Vista adopted a Smart City Strategic Action Plan. A key goal of the Strategic Action Plan is to continue efforts to become a more open and transparent City. In order to support this goal, the City has set an objective to maximize the use of data and analytics to improve city services and increase public access to city information. This also includes ensuring that all new technology, including public data and information collected is stored, managed and utilized in a secure, transparent and safe way. The city is working to develop a comprehensive Citywide Technology Oversight Policy to ensure the safe and effective use of new technologies and protect public data. The Policy will also help to advance the City Council priorities of improving the city’s policies for adoption of new technologies, public data management, security, and privacy. This effort will include the establishment of a City task force of key stakeholders to guide the development of the Policy.

To learn more about the City of Chula Vista's Smart City Plan, click here.

Will the RTOC add future technologies that pose a risk to my privacy?

Our main goal is to improve services and increase public access to information while ensuring that new technology is managed and utilized in a secure, transparent and safe way. Any future technologies that may have an impact on the privacy of our community will go through a public transparency and dialogue process in line with the Citywide Technology Oversight Policy (which is currently in development). We remain committed to engaging in dialogue focused on keeping the community safe before deploying technology that may be perceived to infringe on privacy concerns.

City of Chula Vista

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