HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-12-11; Carlsbad Police Department's Future Real-Time Crime Center (Districts - All); Calderwood, ChristieTo the members of the:
CllY COUNCIL
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December 11, 2025
To:
From:
Council Memorandum
Via: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2025070
Re:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Christie Calderwood, Chief of P~li
Carlsbad Police Department's re Real-Time Crime Center {Districts -All)
This memorandum provides information regarding the Carlsbad Police Department's technology
roadmap that includes a project similar to the Oceanside Police Department's "Connect
Oceanside" Program, a voluntary camera registry program for the community released last
month.
Background
On November 17, 2025, the Oceanside Police Department introduced its Connect Oceanside
Program, a new initiative that invites residents and businesses to voluntarily register their
security cameras through a secure online portal. The program is powered by Axon FUSUS, a
Real-Time Crime Center platform designed to deliver timely, actionable intelligence that
enhances emergency response and supports community safety.
Discussion
Through this voluntary registry, Oceanside residents and businessowners can share the locations
of their privately-owned security cameras with the Oceanside Police Department. Doing so helps
create an interactive map of potential video sources that investigators can reference when a
crime occurs. This reduces the need for door-to-door canvassing and allows Police Officers to
focus on addressing emergencies and solving cases more efficiently. If an incident takes place
near a registered camera, officers may contact the owner to request previously recorded
footage.
While the camera registry program does not give the Police Department live access to any video,
they do offer an option for community members to enable emergency live video sharing, which
allows camera owners to grant temporary access during critical incidents, such as active threats
or unfolding emergencies. During this temporary access, the camera owner still maintains full
control over when live feeds can be viewed.
Carlsbad Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center Roadmap
As part of its long-term public safety strategy, the Carlsbad Police Department is developing a
comprehensive roadmap for establishing its own Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). An RTCC is a
centralized hub where Police employees can access and monitor critical information during
Police Department
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2100 t
Council Memo -Carlsbad Police Department's Future Real-Time Crime Center (Districts -All)
December 11, 2025
Page 2
active incidents. It is designed to give first responders immediate situational awareness by
integrating data from multiple sources, such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD), license plate
readers, live 911 calls, camera systems, and public-facing programs like a voluntary camera
registry.
An RTCC focuses on supporting Police Officers in the field with real-time information during
emergencies, major incidents, and significant investigations. It enhances decision-making by
helping officers quickly identify suspects, locate victims, track fleeing vehicles, and coordinate
resources, ultimately improving response times and community safety.
Carlsbad's RTCC roadmap includes several foundational components that will be presented to
the City Council in the future. These include:
• A phased technology plan, outlining the hardware, software, and infrastructure
needed to support real-time operations.
• A voluntary camera registry program, similar to Oceanside's, allowing residents and
businesses to share the locations of their security cameras.
• Policies, procedures, and privacy safeguards that ensure transparency, data
protection, and responsible use of technology.
• Staffing and training requirements.
• Community engagement efforts to educate the public.
The goal is to develop an RTCC that strengthens public safety while ensuring transparency,
accountability, and responsible use of technology. By moving forward in planned phases, the
Police Department can build a modern, community-focused program that supports officers,
improves emergency response, and enhances overall neighborhood safety.
Next Steps
The Carlsbad Police Department and the Information Technology Department have been
researching RTCC's for years, with the goal of implementing similar technology. This was initially
introduced during the May 10, 2022 Council meeting, when the Motorola Computer Aided-
Dispatch (CAD) contract was introduced and staff discussed the ultimate goal of integrating the
public safety technology which includes, video, software, critical communications, and current
services all into one, so that the Carlsbad Police Department is connected to the community for
quick, efficient and smart resource allocation and overall Police response. The RTCC was
introduced again during the Police Department Update presentation to Council on May 23, 2024,
when discussing future technology goals.
All technology projects in the city are coordinated and planned through the Strategic Digital
Transformation Investment Program (SDTIP), creating a mechanism to thoughtfully consider
resource availability and budget planning for initiatives such as this. The adoption of a fully-
fledged RTCC will not start until the completion of the new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
Council Memo -Carlsbad Police Department's Future Real-Time Crime Center (Districts -All)
December 11, 2025
Page 3
software implementation, which is currently underway with Motorola and is expected to be
finished by Fall of 2026. Typically, the SDTIP project roadmap is reviewed annually during the
budget process, but the program allows for changes at any time throughout the year.
There are multiple technology programs that have the ability to tie into an RTCC that city staff
have been researching. Staff will work with the City Manager on bringing any proposed
technologies to Council for consideration at a future date.
Attachment: A. Oceanside Police Department Press Release dated November 17, 2025
cc: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Jennifer True, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reid Shipley, Assistant Chief of Police
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Maria Callander, Information Technology Director
Joe Stephenson, Assistant Information Technology Director
OCEANSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Gina Avalos, Media Relations Manager
(760) 435-4815 (Desk)
(760) 277-5237 (Cell)
Email address: gavalos@oceansideca.org
For Immediate Release
November 17, 2025
OCEANSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES "CONNECT OCEANSIDE"
PROGRAM
OCEANSIDE, CA -The Oceanside Police Department has launched its latest public safety
initiative, the CONNECT OCEANSIDE Program, powered by Axon Fusus. The Real-Time
Crime Center Cloud platform is designed to provide critical, actionable information that assists
the department in investigations, improves emergency response times, and strengthens
community safety.
As part of this initiative, residents and business owners can voluntarily register their security
cameras with the Oceanside Police Department through a secure online portal
(https://connectoceanside.org/). By participating, they help create a real-time map of
available cameras that can be used to locate potential evidence, reducing the need for time-
consuming door-to-door canvassing. This allows officers to focus on solving crimes and
responding to emergencies more efficiently.
Registering a camera does not grant live video access to the Oceanside Police Department. It
simply provides investigators with camera location information. If an incident occurs near a
registered camera, officers can then contact the owner to request recorded footage that could
assist in the investigation. Any video files provided will remain confidential and will only be
used for law enforcement purposes in criminal investigations or emergencies.
In addition to the camera registry, the Oceanside Police Department is offering residents and
businesses the option to upgrade their security systems to allow live video access only in
emergencies. This feature, enabled through a small CORE device, gives camera owners the
ability to share live feeds with law enforcement in critical situations, such as active threats or
ongoing emergencies. Participants have full control over when and how their cameras are
accessed, ensuring privacy while improving safety.
The CONNECT OCEANSIDE Program is part of a broader effort to modernize public safety
technology and improve law enforcement efficiency. The Axon Fusus platform integrates
multiple security and data sources into a single interface, combining public and private video
feeds with tools such as LIVE911 and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) integration, officer
geolocation, body-worn camera footage, and social media monitoring. These capabilities
enable officers to assess situations in real time, leading to faster response times and improved
situational awareness.
"The Oceanside Police Department remains committed to strengthening community
partnerships through transparency, innovation, and collaboration," said Oceanside Police Chief
Taurino Valdovinos. "OCEANSIDE CONNECT empowers residents and businesses to play an
active role in public safety, creating a safer and more connected city for everyone."
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