LAPD opens new high-tech crime analysis center

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today officially opened the Los Angeles Police Department’s new high-tech crime analysis center.

The LAPD unit is housed in the same new building as the city’s $107-million Emergency Operations Center, the nerve center where officials will coordinate the city’s response to major earthquakes, wildfires, acts of terrorism and other potential disasters and public safety threats.

Officers and detectives in the LAPD’s new Real-Time Analysis and Critical Response Division will sift through a collection of data — 911 calls, the location of GPS-monitored parolees and up-to-the-minute developments at crime scenes — to assist with investigations, suspect information and geographic profiling.

Detectives also will have access to LAPD and Department of Transportation video cameras, the ability to use facial-recognition software to track down suspects, and software to pinpoint and decipher vehicle license plates on the video feeds.

“It’s the heart and soul of the emergency operations response for the city and for the region,’’ said Jim McDonnell, the LAPD's first assistant chief.

The new center is on East Temple Street, east of the federal courthouse.

—Phil Willon at City Hall

Comments

[annonymous]

this is good considering how many fires we have throughout the year and having to worry about a fire happening every time it gets real hot. just as long as the software does not some how malfunction or gets an innocent person.