A new technology-driven concept is helping the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) solve crime in real time. Designed to enhance situational awareness, coordination, and officer and community safety, the Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) brings together technology, data and personnel in a centralized location to support officers in the field with real-time information.

This new center is aimed at improving response times, decision-making, and outcomes during critical incidents and major events.

At a small ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 7, Mayor Todd Gloria and Police Chief Scott Wahl shared how this center is already helping behind the scenes to support SDPD in responding to calls for service.

“When I started as Chief, one of my top priorities was ensuring that we are as efficient and effective as possible with the limited resources we have,” Chief Wahl said. “With the Real-Time Operations Center, we are able to stay a step ahead of crime by having a team working together to support the officers out in the field with having real-time information to act on. I want to thank Mayor Gloria and the San Diego Police Foundation for their support in making this a reality.”

The RTOC has been operational since July 2025 and has already assisted in cases that could be quickly investigated and solved using various technologies. Real-time operations centers have proven successful in large cities throughout the country, and several local agencies also utilize this centralized model of modern policing.

Lt. Kris McAndrew, who oversees the Real-Time Operations Center, highlighted one case example during the event. The case involved an armed carjacking in Pacific Beach. His team in the RTOC heard the call come in about the crime in progress and quickly jumped on it to assist. They were able to use the information provided by the victim to enter the car that had been stolen into the department’s ALPR system. While officers were investigating and canvassing Pacific Beach looking for the stolen vehicle, an alert let the RTOC team know that the car was already in Downtown in a completely different police division. The RTOC was able to direct other nearby officers to the car and safely take the suspect into custody. The time it took from the call coming in to the arrest was approximately 30 minutes.

“In these times where resources are limited and where we have a need to recruit more officers, we have to find ways to work more efficiently and to be able to still deliver on the commitment that we will be there in your time of need,” Mayor Gloria said. “This Real-Time Operations Center helps us to do that. It is moving public safety and policing into the 21st Century and allowing our officers to have better understanding of the information they need when responding to 911 call. I’m also very proud of this City and the extraordinary efforts we’ve taken to make sure that people's privacy is protected.”

This project was made possible through public-private partnership with the generous support of the San Diego Police Foundation.

Chief Wahl expressed his priority to create a police department that is more efficient and effective with limited resources. The RTOC leverages technology to solve crimes faster and provide valuable information to officers working to keep San Diego safe.