STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Mark G. Stainbrook, Chief of Police
Subject: Beverly Hills Police Department’s Real Time Watch Center Attachments: None
INTRODUCTION
The City Council, City Manager’s Office, and Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) have a mutual goal to uphold the law and ensure the safety and security of the Beverly Hills community. In the past, BHPD has excelled in retroactively solving crimes.
However, with the advent of new technology, the BHPD has a new goal to prevent or deter certain crimes before they take place. The Real Time Watch Center will be the central command and control hub for the organization of technological and staff support to achieve this goal.
DISCUSSION
The Real Time Watch Center will be comprised of the following elements: closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, automated license plate readers (ALPR), unmanned aerial systems (drones), Live911, and an intelligence unit.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras
Historically, the City Council has supported the use of technology to enhance BHPD field operations. There are over 2,000 CCTV cameras throughout the City, including four mobile CCTV trailers.
However, there is limited real time monitoring of these CCTV cameras. The cameras are recorded and typically reviewed after an event or criminal activity has occurred.
Currently, BHPD, Public Works (PW), and Information Technology (IT) are formally meeting monthly to review the quality and location of each CCTV camera to ensure that they provide the most coverage possible. These strategic locations are based on the threat analysis, vulnerability, and crime statistics.
CCTV cameras can be reviewed with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) suite called BriefCam. BriefCam adds more functionality to the current CCTV camera system by providing rapid video review and Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
search, facial recognition, operator alert features, quantitative video insight, multicamera search, people and vehicle counting, and path analysis. These capabilities accelerate investigations, derive operational intelligence, and attain situational awareness.
At this time, while BriefCam has robust post-investigative capabilities and the potential for some real time capabilities, it may not be the best system for real time management, communication, and coordination for our combined technological resources. BHPD and IT are currently conducting an intensive review of potential real time watch center, webbased management software solutions. These systems include the ability to map all resources and quickly gather information to send to field personnel, including patrol officers, detectives, traffic control officers, and private security guards.
The immediate goal is to have two live CCTV operators to monitor camera feeds and coordinate with units in the field. CoveredSix and NASTEC will be able to provide enough trained operators to staff the RTWC. This is important because the operators must already have geographic/operational knowledge of the City of Beverly Hills.
Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)
The City has twenty-three (23) Automated License Plate
Readers (ALPR) at nine (9) intersections within the City. New locations are being considered at City borders so that license plates, or lack thereof, can be read immediately as vehicles enter and exit the City. Stolen vehicles and vehicles and persons entering the City without proper vehicle identification will be identified and located more rapidly. BHPD is working with PW and IT to lease and install at least 30 additional ALPR units at these strategic locations.
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Drone Program
During significant police events, such as perimeters or searches for criminal suspects, BHPD relies upon air support (helicopter) from the Los Angeles Police Department or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. BHPD currently has several small tactical drones; however, these drones lack the capabilities to provide significant operational support, which include high-quality cameras, infrared cameras for night-time operations, and long-life batteries for increased flying time.
BHPD has recently contracted the company “Flying Lion” to test the applicability of Drones as First Responder (DFR). At-the-ready drones deploy from buildings within the City to calls for service and critical incidents. The drones are used in accordance with Department policy and in compliance with State and local law. An Air Support Officer (ASO), located at police headquarters, operates the drones when the drone is airborne.
The ASO is not just a drone pilot, but also a police officer with the ability to manage incidents and direct appropriate response. The DFR program provides first responders with decision-quality data and incident management before anyone on the ground is in harm’s way. DFR is currently being used by other regional agencies and is the future of law enforcement aerial support.
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
Drone launch and recovery site within Beverly Hills
Drone flights have provided significant support to patrol officers by being first on scene to calls for service. Additionally, the DFR program has responded to suspicious person calls, crimes in progress, monitored traffic stops and investigations and has provided support for traffic accidents. To date, the DFR drone has flown over 360 missions in Beverly Hills, and counting. Drone technology provides rapid air support for field personnel and allows for the same type of aerial coverage as a helicopter, with the benefits of lower cost and reduced liability.
Drone operations began on December 11, 2021. The below statistics are from December 20, 2021, to March 27, 2022:
TOTALS
Drone Ops Days 57
Calls Responded 291
Calls Cleared 16
Traffic Stops 86
Special Watch 47
Officer Request 7
Assist on Calls 80
Flights Completed 656
First on Scene 32*
* Note: Since February 28, 2022
During hours DFRs are not deployed, Air Support Officers who work Patrol, will have drones in their vehicles to handle any situation that requires drone support. This officer launched program ensures that BHPD will have drone technology in the City at all times.
Drone Operator Led Capture of Robbery Suspect
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
Live911
Live911 technology allows 911 calls to livestream directly to first responders in the field.
The expectation is that this technology will improve officer response times to calls, will improve de-escalation by providing additional context to calls, will help keep officers safer by increasing situational awareness, and will improve overall officer and citizen safety. Live911 can integrate into the Real Time Watch Center operations, police officer vehicles, and will support the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. Live911 does not replace the current dispatch system. It merely allows for more immediate access to 911 calls for field personnel. BHPD will work with IT in order to establish this new system.
Intelligence Unit
Another critical component of this operational model is criminal intelligence analysis.
This group, made up of highly trained crime-intel analysts, will work on analyzing crime so that BHPD can proactively get ahead of criminal activity. This predictive, intelligence driven model will integrate the Watch Commander, CCTV operators, drone pilots, and field personnel. The request for an additional crime analyst position has been included in the fiscal impact section below.
Timeline
The current timeline for Phase 1 of the Real Time Watch Center is as follows:
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras
o Updated agreement for CCTV camera operators with CoveredSix and Nastec by early May 2022
o CCTV camera operator training completed by end of May 2022 o Live CCTV monitoring begins first full week of June 2022 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR)
o Contract, walkthrough, and site survey complete
o Estimated installation completion is end of May 2022
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Drone Program
o DFR program currently operational at 4 days a week/9hours a day o DFR program goes to seven day a week-operations beginning July 1, 2022
o Officer launched program operational upon funding approval and purchase of new drones
Live911
o AT&T to provide for connectivity and modem support
o Once connection is established, estimate is 4 weeks for integration Intelligence Cell
o Timeline dependent on hiring new Crime Analyst
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
Real Time Watch Center Workflow Process
Using a portion of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) appears to be a logical location to build a temporary Real Time Watch Center in order to practice using all available resources. This initial period (Phase One) of 8-12 months would be used to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and develop best practices. Phase One will implement the core functionality so that scalable decisions can be made for the future program.
Proposed Real Time Watch Center Location
At this time, the best location for a pilot program is in the back area of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The area provides enough space for the Watch Commander, the CCTV operators, the drone pilots and the criminal intelligence analysts enough space to work and coordinate effectively.
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT
The following table below reflects each item necessary for the creation of the Real Time Watch Center, the requested amounts by fiscal year, and a brief background related to each item.
Item
FY 21/22
Requested
Funds
FY 22/23
Requested
Funds
Annual
Recurring
Costs Detail
ALPR
Cameras $0 $98,050 $98,050
Provides on-going,
annual subscription
services for all ALPRs.
CCTV
Operators
$68,000 $610,000 $610,000
Provides operators to
monitor CCTV cameras
for a minimum of 16
hours a day.
Live911
$38,000 $28,000 $28,000
Software that allows for
streaming 911 calls
directly to officers in the
field, which will improve
call time and improve
citizen and officer
safety. This amount
includes the Live911
operational software,
licenses, AT&T support,
and modem/connectivity
requirements.
Drone
Program:
Officer
Launched
Drone
$100,000 $30,000 $30,000
There is an existing
appropriation from
Equipment
Replacement Fund 400
to purchase drones in
FY21/22 for $100,000.
A future appropriation is
required for the ongoing
expense of $30,000 for
maintenance, software
licensing, and training.
Drone
Program:
Drone as
First
Responder
(DFR)
$100,000 $450,000 $450,000
FY21/22 request
includes contract for
daily operations thru
end of FY (40 hours per
week), equipment and
licenses. FY22/23
request includes the
drone program’s annual
reoccurring costs for
daily operations thru
end of FY (70 hours per
week), equipment and
licenses (BEF submitted
and Finance will
incorporate in
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
Enhancement Summary
upon approval).
RTWC
Consultant
(IT)
$75,000 $210,000 $0
Fulfills the need for a
technical resource to
liaison between PD and
IT to ensure seamless
technology integration
of all facets of the
RTWC.
RTWC
Initial
Hardware
(IT) $81,000 $0 $0
Computers, displays,
wall mounts, display
mounts, etc.
RTWC
Server
Hardware
(IT) $0 $219,000 $0
Backend computer
hardware and software
necessary for
infrastructure.
A/I Video
Analytics
(IT)
$0 $265,000 $53,000
Includes the Briefcam
software licenses.
Briefcam provides the
capability to quickly
review hundreds of
hours of video to search
for suspects and
vehicles.
Systems
Integration
& Network
Security
(IT) $50,000 $125,000 $125,000
Provides security
against cyber-attacks.
Staff
Training $86,000 $0 $86,000
Training for camera
operators, multi-media
staff and supervisors.
Intelligence
Unit Staff
$0 $166,930 $154,430
To enhance the
intelligence unit, an
additional crime analyst
is requested. The initial
cost for FY22/23 is
$154,430 plus one-time
costs for computer and
desk equipment of
$12,500, for a total of
$166,930. The ongoing
costs for the position
are estimated at
$154,430.
RTWC
Network
Software
$0 $250,000 $250,000
Includes the integration
software which will allow
police officers, drones,
ALPRs, CCTV
operators, and Watch
Commanders to
Meeting Date: April 12, 2022
communicate
seamlessly.
Totals by
Fiscal Year $598,000 $2,451,980 $1,884,480
During the upcoming Formal session agenda on April 12, 2022, staff will request that all contracts necessary to implement the Real Time Watch Center be authorized by and delegated to the City Manager. Of the $598,000 needed for Fiscal Year 2021/22, there is an existing appropriation of $100,000 in Equipment Replacement Fund 400 which will cover the drone costs for the Officer Launched Drone program, therefore, staff will request an appropriation from the General Fund in the amount of $498,000 for Fiscal Year 2021/2022. Staff will also request an appropriation of $2,451,980 from the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2022/2023. If approved, the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 amount will be incorporated into the proposed budget which will be presented to City Council in May.
RECOMMENDATION
While each of these technologies, CCTV (Milestone), ALPRs, and drones, have great stand-alone capabilities, the potential to use them in an integrated fashion is a force multiplier. The cohesive use of technology, combined with integrated operational systems, has the potential to revolutionize the way BHPD secures the City. The Real Time Watch Center will be the command center for this network of police connectivity.
The Real Time Watch Center will:
Integrate all available technology to more proactively identify criminal threats before they strike, with the goal of reducing crime;
Integrate new technology overlays, which will allow for more efficient communication amongst the Watch Commander, field personnel, dispatch, live CCTV operators, drone pilots, ALPRs, and criminal intelligence analysts; Improve the safety of all field personnel, residents and visitors; Develop an efficient, proactive system in anticipation of major future events in Beverly Hills, which may increase criminal activity and traffic. Such events include, the opening of two Metro Transit stations starting in 2024 and the 2028 Olympic Games, being hosted in Los Angeles.
Operationally, it is imperative that the Watch Commander, CCTV operators, drone pilots, and criminal intelligence analyst(s) work within the same physical space. The Watch Commander must deploy their resources based on best possible information and coordinate the activities of the operators and pilots with field personnel. The Watch Commander’s role is similar to that of a “quarterback” - calling plays during developing situations as appropriate.
There have been several recent cases of CCTV, ALPRs, and drones being used in a coordinated manner, however future coordinated responses of all field personnel and technology within the Real Time Watch Center will establish a more mission-oriented process. BHPD will have the intelligence tools to proactively monitor crime trends, take preventive measures to stop crime, and pursue criminal activity using real time, integrated support from the ground, the sky, and the command center.
Mark G. Stainbrook,
Chief of Police
Approved By