Technology has played a role in 600 reported incidents and 90 active criminal investigations in less than 60 days
Cameras are active along Aurora, Third Avenue, and the CID; with new legislation proposing expansion to the Garfield and Nova High Schools neighborhood, the Capitol Hill Nightlife District, and the SODO Stadium Area
Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell and Police Chief Shon Barnes announced initial public safety successes achieved through Seattle’s recently launched Real Time Crime Center (RTCC). Located at the Seattle Police Department (SPD) headquarters, the center integrates various video and data streams for enhanced analysis and investigation of crime incidents. Since its launch on May 20, the center has played a role in investigating 600 reported incidents and is currently supporting 90 active criminal investigations.
“Our Real Time Crime Center is already proving to be a vital tool in solving crimes and improving public safety across the city, supporting hundreds of investigations and accountability for dangerous offenders,” said Mayor Harrell. “By investing in and leveraging evidence-based technology, we’re giving our officers the resources they need to respond effectively while ensuring these tools are used responsibly and with strong safeguards. Public safety remains our top priority, and this initiative shows our commitment to creating safer neighborhoods for everyone in Seattle.”
The RTCC is part of Mayor Harrell’s larger Crime Prevention Technology Pilot, which uses proven evidence-based solutions and technologies to help communities tackle urgent public safety challenges. Recently, the City installed CCTV cameras along Aurora Avenue North, the downtown Third Avenue corridor, and the Chinatown-International District (CID), and police vehicles are now equipped with Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), integrated with the RTCC. These technologies are part of a broader effort to address safety issues in neighborhoods across the city, with CCTV cameras monitoring key areas and ALPR systems alerting officers to stolen vehicles or vehicles with court-issued arrest warrants for individuals associated with them.
“Seattle’s Real Time Crime Center plays an important role in our new policing strategy aimed at keeping our city safer,” said Chief Barnes. “It’s already helped our officers address 600 incidents in about 60 days, which exceeded my expectations. That’s real results and real impact – and we’re just getting started. We look forward to growing the RTCC in partnership with our city government partners, businesses, and the community.”
RTCC analysts provide patrol officers and detectives with incident details, video images, and other relevant information, often as incidents are happening. RTCC analysts can communicate directly with officers in the field via police radio channels. During a recent gun violence incident near Aurora Avenue North, RTCC analysts used CCTV cameras to observe the shooting suspect, send an image of the suspect to responding patrol officers, and then advise officers of the escape route that the offender was taking.
The mayor recently proposed legislation to the City Council that expands the geographic areas where City CCTV cameras can be installed, including public streets and sidewalks around Garfield and Nova High Schools, the Capitol Hill Nightlife District, and the SODO Stadium Area. The legislation also authorizes the RTCC to view and record SDOT traffic cameras at select intersections and along major arterial roads in the city.
“Today is an important step – it represents the implementation and operationalization of all the work the City has done together – the Council, the Mayor and others – to address our public safety challenges,” said Councilmember Bob Kettle (District 7), who chairs the Public Safety Committee. “We have a strategy, and now we are executing it. Together we’re putting into practice the 20-plus public safety bills we’ve passed to help keep our community safe.”
Mayor Harrell signed legislation to implement his Crime Prevention Technology Pilot in October 2024, and the City’s final 2025-2026 budget included $3.1 million to establish the Real Time Crime Center and improve emergency responses.
The CCTV and RTCC technologies are paired with comprehensive crime-prevention efforts, continued investments in community-based initiatives, and Chief Barnes’ Seattle-centric policing approach. The RTCC currently operates daily from 8 AM to 3 AM, with plans to expand to 24/7 in 2026.
The City has completed Surveillance Impact Reports (SIR) for the CCTV and RTCC technologies as required by the City’s surveillance ordinance. The City’s public engagement and input process included two citywide public meetings, 15 neighborhood meetings, and feedback from organizations such as the NAACP, ACLU, and advisory groups from the pilot areas, resulting in over 1,000 public comments received.
The City’s Office of Inspector General has hired independent academic experts to evaluate the RTCC and the Police Department’s use of the RTCC, CCTV cameras, and Automated License Plate Readers. The evaluation team is led by Principal Investigator Anthony Braga and Co-Principal Investigator Lisa Barao at the University of Pennsylvania’s Crime and Justice Policy Lab.
What People Are Saying
Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9)
“The Real Time Crime Center is a game changer – a much-needed tool for the Seattle Police Department in advancing our comprehensive approach to public safety. Seattle’s a tech town and it only makes sense for Seattle to join other large, progressive cities in using technology to advance public safety, and that’s especially true given SPD’s ongoing staffing challenges.”
Captain James Britt, Seattle Police Department, Commander, Real Time Crime Center
“The Real Time Crime Center provides much needed information to responding officers and detectives, helping support informed decision making and furthering investigative efforts. It reinforces our precision policing model: respond quickly, investigate thoroughly, identify correctly, arrest safely, prosecute successfully. We are also conscious of the privacy concerns that technology can raise, especially in policing. Our team is reminded at all times that we must use these systems responsibly.”
Gary Lee, Co-Chair of the CID Public Safety Council
“The Chinatown-International District has faced significant challenges with public safety, but we are seeing signs of progress and are encouraged by the City’s commitment to finding new solutions. We appreciate Mayor Harrell’s leadership in exploring innovative programs like the Real Time Crime Center and the crime prevention technology pilot. These tools, combined with community collaboration, offer a promising step toward deterring crime and making our neighborhood safer for residents and businesses alike.”
Jon Scholes, President & CEO of Downtown Seattle Association
“Seattle is a technology town and so it’s great to see City leaders leveraging technology to keep our streets safe. We’re seeing notable improvement in public safety downtown, with violent crime down 15% the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. While there is still more work to do, our thanks to Mayor Harrell and Chief Barnes for their leadership and for looking for creative solutions.”