The Amarillo Police Department launched its Regional Crime Center (RCC) early this year. It officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in February 2025, representing an investment in public safety for Amarillo and the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. The RCC streamlines investigations and improves officer safety and response times.
The Impact of Real-Time Technology
Before the RCC, identifying stolen vehicles and tracking suspects was a more time-consuming process. Officers relied on printed lists of stolen vehicles and manual searches while patrolling. Now, with automated license plate readers (LPRs), scanning millions of plates each month, alerts are instantly generated when a stolen vehicle is detected. This allows officers to respond in real time, significantly increasing recovery rates and preventing further criminal activity.
The RCC’s crime analysts play a crucial role in supporting officers in the field. They provide immediate intelligence on suspects, vehicles, and crime trends. Their work is impactful in major cases, such as a recent investigation where analysts combined security footage, LPR data, and intersection cameras to locate and apprehend a suspect.
Innovative Solutions for Public Safety
Lieutenant Shane Chadwick, Commander of the Amarillo RCC, emphasized the department’s commitment to continuous improvement. After researching best practices across the country, the Amarillo RCC was designed with adaptability in mind, ensuring that it can evolve alongside advancements in law enforcement technology.
The Amarillo Police Department partnered with IDEA Analytics to develop a strategic plan for their analysts, and a three-pronged approach was taken for their digital transformation:
- Prong 1: Diversifying financial strategies allowed APD to identify the vendors best suited for space build out, infrastructure, and technology tools.
- Prong 2: Establishing sworn leadership for ARCC operational buildouts and professional staff leadership within the Intelligence Analysis Unit.
- Prong 3: Partnering with IDEA Analytics to develop a strategic plan tailored specifically for change management, implementation, and analytical processes.
Real-time crime centers serve as a hub for a wide range of critical data, and without the right structure and strategy, valuable insights can be overlooked. Recognizing this, IDEA Analytics worked closely with the Amarillo PD to ensure that their investment in technology was matched with streamlined processes and actionable workflows to support their tactical operational plans. The result is a documented process of data collection, evaluation, and reporting that enables analysts to provide timely, valuable data and intelligence for officers during investigative stages.
Source: Amarillo Globe-News / March 3, 2025
One of the RCC’s standout features is its integration of drones, which provide real-time aerial views of unfolding incidents. The department ensures that drones arrive on scene within 90 seconds of an emergency call, achieving this goal 98% of the time. These drones assist in locating missing persons and monitoring active crime scenes, providing situational awareness before officers arrive on-site.
The RCC also utilizes body-worn cameras with live-streaming capabilities, automatically activating when an officer unholsters a firearm or taser. This feature provides immediate visibility to supervisors and analysts, enhancing officer safety and accountability.
Enhanced intelligence capabilities have helped officers recover stolen vehicles faster, locate missing children, and provide real-time support during high-risk incidents. Additionally, the center’s efficiency mitigates staffing shortages by using technology to support tasks that previously required multiple personnel.
By combining real-time intelligence, advanced investigative tools, and a commitment to community safety, the RCC is reshaping the way crimes are prevented and solved.
Constant’s Role in Making the RCC a Reality
Transforming Amarillo PD’s vision into a fully operational Regional Crime Center required trusted partners. Constant designed, integrated, and installed mission-critical video wall systems and ergonomic workstations, enabling advanced law enforcement technologies.
With 40+ years of expertise, Constant equipped the RCC with high-performance visualization, intuitive workstations, and optimized workflows for real-time intelligence sharing. This strategic investment has enhanced Amarillo PD’s capabilities and future readiness.
Constant specializes in mission-critical command centers for public safety agencies. Contact us to learn how we can support your initiatives.
