Inside the Gastonia, North Carolina Real Time Crime Center

Situation

The Gastonia Police Department operates its Real Time Crime Center as a centralized hub to monitor, analyze, and respond to crime in real time. Built to serve a growing city of approximately 85,000 in the Charlotte metro area, the center supports patrol, investigations, and traffic units with a constant flow of live video, analytics, and data. The strategic goal: use technology as a force multiplier — improving response times, enhancing officer safety, and enabling data-driven policing.

Challenge

The department needed to integrate 21 LPRs, 22 live cameras, 144 downtown surveillance cameras, and 6,000+ community/business camera partnerships into a single operational picture. The build also had to connect to a nationwide network of 5,000+ law enforcement agencies and plan for a 2026 drone first-responder program — all in an environment designed for 24/7 operation.

Solution

Fountainhead Control Rooms designed the Gastonia RTCC with ergonomic console layouts for 24/7 staffing, a purpose-built video wall for shared situational awareness, and infrastructure planned from the ground up for strong sightlines, efficient workflows, and future technology growth. The turnkey design-build approach ensures the space, technology, and furniture work together as a unified system.

Results

The RTCC has already proven its impact. In January 2026, just minutes after a shooting, RTCC analysts used Flock camera technology to locate the suspect's burgundy Nissan and relay its location to patrol units in real time — leading to a fast, safe apprehension. The diversified funding package ($963K federal COPS Grant, $120K ARPA, $100K General Fund, $641K annual operating budget) reflects a long-term commitment to public safety technology. Footage is stored for 30 days under state law, balancing powerful investigative tools with strict privacy and data-management practices.