In just two weeks since its launch, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department says its new Real Time Intelligence Crime Center (RTICC) has already prevented several violent crimes and drug deals, marking what they call a ‘quantum leap’ in the department’s ability to protect the community.
To have a great community, you have to have a safe community.
Tyrone Garner, Mayor, KCK
The state-of-the-art facility, housed in what was once an abandoned room in the department’s East Patrol Division, represents a significant investment in public safety technology that’s already showing results. Only 150 police departments nationwide have access to this level of technology.
“This is going to be a game-changer for us and our community,” says Police Chief Karl Oakman.
He noted that violent crime in KCK has dropped 62% since 2020, a trend he believes the new center will help continue.
The RTICC facility operates like a high-tech command center, with intelligence analysts monitoring multiple screens showing real-time video feeds from across the city. These analysts can immediately relay critical information to officers responding to calls, helping them know exactly what they’re walking into.
The system also enhances police accountability and officer safety through real-time tracking of all patrol vehicles. Every police car’s location is displayed on the center’s massive 15-foot, 4K video wall, allowing supervisors to monitor response times and ensure proper coverage across the city.
Mayor Tyrone Garner, himself a retired police officer with 32 years of service, praised the initiative.
“To have a great community, you have to have a safe community,” Garner said. “It’s a great start in innovative ways to use technology to find ways to keep the great people of Kansas City, Kansas safe.”
The center’s technology includes license plate readers, traffic cameras, and a sophisticated gunshot detection system that comes with an innovative twist. When the sound of a shot is detected, the system syncs with video to show officers what happened in the area before the shot was fired.
Captain Kevin Fithian, who oversees the center’s operations, shared a success story that shows how the RTICC works. When a carjacking occurred at a gas station in downtown KCK, analysts entered the victim’s license plate number into the system. Within 30 minutes, plate readers and video tracked the stolen vehicle to 78th and State Ave. Analysts watched the suspect park and exit the car via security cameras and guided officers to make an arrest.
“We went from hoping to get your car back to solving the crime in 30 minutes,” says Fithian. “And we did it without putting anyone at risk from a high-speed chase.”
The center is currently staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. by four intelligence analysts, one detective, and one captain. Plans are in place to expand to 24/7 coverage as staffing allows.
Funding for the center came from multiple sources, including the unified government, county commissioners, and a federal grant secured through Senator Jerry Moran’s office. The department has installed 37% of its planned camera network, with more installations ongoing.
To make the system even more effective, KCKPD is inviting residents and businesses to join their “Connect KCK” security camera registry. The voluntary program allows community members to register their security cameras with the department, creating a broader network of surveillance that can help solve crimes faster.
Residents and business owners interested in registering their security cameras can visit KCKPD.org and find the registration link under the crime tab. Registration takes about 30 seconds and allows police to quickly contact camera owners if a crime occurs in their area.
The department stressed that this is a voluntary program and that privacy concerns are taken seriously. When a crime occurs, police can quickly identify which community members have cameras in the area and request footage that might help solve the case.
“I can say without a doubt that these police officers moving forward into the next generation are what great policing is all about,” says Garner. “Even being short-staffed, they put this community in an era of historic lows in violent crime… it really helps make Wyandotte County a great and safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”
