San Francisco Real-Time Investigation Center (RTIC) equipped with drones and advanced technologies now fully operates to help keep the city safe

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Real-Time Investigation Center (RTIC) is now fully operational in remotely assisting officers to make arrests and prevent crimes with the help of advanced technologies.

Mayor Daniel Lurie and Interim Police Chief Paul Yep announced the updates of RTIC at its brand new state-of-the-art center located in the Financial District on Montgomery Street. The relocation of RTIC from Hall of Justice to Financial District and the expansion of the center were made possible by a $9.4 million donation from Philanthropist Chris Larsen.

"Violent crime is down to low levels not seen since the 1950s. Car break-ins are at a 22-year low and citywide crime is down 30%," Lurie said at the press event in the RTIC and attributed the significant reduction of crime to the great work of all police officers in SFPD and advanced technologies.

In addition to drones, other technologies at the RTIC include Flock Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), public safety cameras and other crime-fighting tools which can be used simultaneously to assist officers on the ground protecting the community.

"It doesn't just help catch criminals either, it helps locate missing people and people in crisis, even has supported our Fire Department by providing aerial views of fires or helping save dogs off the side of cliffs," said Lurie.

Lurie also provided updates on police recruitments. "SFPD has seen an over 40% increase in entry level applications and a 230% increase in lateral applications marking the first year with a net increase in officers since 2018," said Lurie. "When we staff our department, officers can get out of their cars and walk our neighborhoods building relationships with residents, merchants and with community leaders."

The SFPD still has a staffing shortage of 500 officers, Yep said the RTIC could not replace the rank and file of SFPD. "Officers work hard every day. The RTIC just augments our ability to be crime fighters in San Francisco. So this technology is just we leverage it to our advantage and it is a game changer."

After one year of hard work and partnerships with private industry, the RTIC has been fully renovated and operational. "I'm proud to say that the San Francisco Police Department is a national leader in law enforcement technology and we will continue to innovate to expand on this work to ensure San Francisco is the safest city in the country."

The RTIC was established by Proposition E which was passed by city voters in March 2024. Since the launch of RTIC, the technologies and tools have assisted in over 800 arrests. The arrests made included retail theft suspects, auto burglary crews, homicide suspects and more.

"Over the last two years, our strategic arrests from our officers and assistance from the RTIC are having a major impact on crime," Yep said. Auto burglaries decreased by 75% and Part One crimes which include violent crimes and property crimes were down 47% in the last two years. "And this year we are on pace to have the lowest number of homicides in 70 years."

Yep credited the low crime rate to team effort across every unit in the department. "And with the right tools, our officers have shown that they are the best of the best," said Yep.

Videos from drones showed officers were making arrests as they communicated with investigators who monitored the situation remotely at the RTIC. It was completely different when comparing the situation currently and previously prior to the passage of Proposition E by city voters.

"San Francisco two years ago was in the dark ages when it came to police technology. San Francisco is now back in its rightful place leading the nation in technology innovation," said Yep. "We know that technology moves quickly and we will constantly be looking at new ways to innovate and increase public safety."

Philanthropist Chris Larsen, who is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur founding a number of technology startups, thanked Lurie and Yep on their focus on public safety. "We can't be a world innovation center. We can't be the number one tourist attraction. Unless we get the basics right. Unless people feel safe," Larsen said.

"And that's why we founded the San Francisco Police Community Foundation which now awards grants to all 10 stations to help boost morale and to help foster a positive community engagement," Larsen said. "And of course it's why we donated to help this Real-Time Investigation Center."