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Real time information centers are quickly becoming the connective tissue between technology and patrol, pulling together tools like drones as first responders, automated license plate readers, fixed-camera networks, CAD and intelligence platforms to turn incoming data into decisions officers can use in the moment. The result is a shift from reactive updates to proactive situational awareness, with centers helping agencies track suspects without high-risk pursuits, tighten response decisions and support broader public safety missions.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Nikki Bell, RTIC manager with the Vacaville Police Department, and Andrea Cortez, RTIC manager with the Elk Grove Police Department. Bell brings 25 years in public safety, including early experience as a single-seat dispatcher in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, that shaped her focus on resourcefulness, operational empathy and “many hats” staffing. Cortez draws from an intelligence analysis background, applying the collect, vet, analyze, disseminate and feedback cycle to refine what the center pushes out. Both also help lead broader collaboration through the California RTIC Work Group and the National Real Time Crime Center Association (NRTCCA), sharing lessons learned on staffing, training, technology and community trust.
Tune in to discover
- How RTICs turn tech overload into clear, usable intel for officers in real time
- Why drones, cameras and ALPR can stop pursuits before they start
- What really happens inside a fast-moving RTIC during an active call
- How live 911 audio gives teams a head start when seconds matter
- What’s next, from automation to tighter regional teamwork that closes escape routes
Key takeaways from this episode
The RTIC’s core value is filtering noise into action: The center exists to centralize work that used to be scattered across dispatch, patrol and investigations, then turn it into officer-ready information through an operational lens: “Does this help the officer right now?”
DFR and cameras can change the first minutes of a call: Getting a drone overhead before units arrive can provide an early “spectator view,” improve officer safety, confirm what’s happening and help commanders right-size response, including de-escalation when appropriate.
Live 911 can be a force multiplier when seconds matter: Hearing 911 audio immediately, before a call is fully built in CAD, can give RTIC staff a head start to cue cameras, prep a drone launch and begin building situational awareness while dispatch is still processing details.
Staffing and teamwork make or break performance: Both agencies describe minimum staffing versus ideal staffing and emphasize how synchronized internal communication inside the center helps vet details before anything goes out over the air, creating a “choreographed dance” that improves with debriefs and repetition.
The future is automation and smarter regional sharing: They’re looking for technology that reduces cognitive load through automation (surfacing relevant cameras, plates, history and risk indicators without constant manual prompting) while expanding cross-jurisdiction partnerships so offenders can’t rely on city limits as a shield.
About our sponsor
Flock Safety works with more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, delivering real-time intelligence through a holistic ecosystem of technology designed to keep officers safe, reduce crime, and build stronger communities. And if you’re looking for real stories from the front lines — how your peers are using these tools to shape the future of safety in their cities — tune in to Flock’s “Real Time Policing” podcast, with new episodes dropping on Wednesdays. Watch episodes on YouTube or tune in wherever you get your podcasts. Click here to view.
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