27-05-2025
New DPD high-tech space combines tools to solve crime faster
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — At the beginning of the year, the Dayton Police Department implemented a new technology to help them crack down on crimes in just hours.
The Real Time Crime Center is a recent upgrade for DPD, having already led to dozens of arrests since it began in January.
2 NEWS visited the room to learn more about how the high-tech space is solving crimes.
In the first two months, DPD said it was able to make 21 arrests and assist in 25 more by using the Real Time Crime Room.
The department says the room even helped them solve one crime in less than an hour.
'So start to finish, from the time the call came in to the time that we had the suspect and gun recovered was about an hour,' said Major Paul Saunders, DPD.
The Real Time Crime Room allowed DPD to track down the suspect in a shooting on Rugby Avenue, along with recovering fentanyl within an hour.
With situations like this, Dayton police said they are getting a return on their investment.
'It has been wildly successful,' said Saunders. 'And I will say, technology without the people to operate it and effectively leverage it, is just like boxes and computers and screens.'
Major Saunders is the push behind the operation, telling 2 NEWS how the room uses several technologies all in one space.
This includes over 50 public safety cameras, 911 call records, the FLOCKOS system — which allows community members to live share their video — and over 70 license plate readers from across the city.
'We've had the technology for a long time, but they have not always been able to be accessed in one place,' said Joe Parlette, deputy city manager.
Parlette said the room was created with the help of grant funding, general department funds and support from the city.
'In this case, absolute support and trust in Major Saunders to do it right,' said Parlette.
Saunders says the help keeps them at the top of their game.
'Political leaders have shown support for the efforts to keep us efficient and at the top of our technology game,' said Saunders.
The city of Dayton is looking to receive grant funding to support similar technology to expand the fire department next.
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