| Fountainhead Control Rooms

Serving a population of approximately 85,000 near Charlotte, Gastonia Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center is a major step forward in law enforcement technology and control room design. Custom‑designed by Fountainhead Control Rooms, this RTCC integrates multiple data sources to provide real‑time operational intelligence and give officers critical information before they arrive on scene.

Agency Overview

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 in the Charlotte metro area, the center supports patrol, investigations, and traffic units with a constant flow of live video, analytics, and data.

Strategically, the goal is to use technology as a force multiplier—improving response times, enhancing officer safety, and enabling data‑driven policing that supports a safer community.

Key Project Specifications:

21 license plate readers (LPRs)
22 live cameras
144 downtown surveillance cameras
Integration with a nationwide network of 5,000+ law enforcement agencies
6,000+ community and business camera partnerships
Planned drone first responder capability (January 2026)
Initial staffing: 4 full‑time positions (expandable to 12)

Funding and Investment

Gastonia’s Real-Time Crime Center is supported by a diversified funding package that reflects the city’s long‑term commitment to public safety technology:

$963,000 federal COPS Grant
$120,000 ARPA funds
$100,000 City of Gastonia General Fund
$641,000 annual operating budget

This mix of federal and local investment enables Gastonia to build and sustain a modern, integrated RTCC capable of 24/7 operations.

Design Philosophy

Fountainhead Control Rooms creates control environments that help teams make critical decisions with speed and clarity. The Gastonia RTCC features:

Ergonomic console layouts designed for 24/7 staffing
A purpose‑built video wall that gives operators clear, shared situational awareness
Infrastructure planned from the ground up for strong sightlines, efficient workflows, and future technology growth

Through a turnkey design‑build approach, Fountainhead partners with agencies from early planning through final delivery, ensuring the space, technology, and furniture work together as a unified system.

Real‑World Impact

The RTCC helps officers make more informed decisions in the field, contributing to faster response times, safer outcomes, and greater efficiency. By integrating live video, analytics, and communication tools into a single Real-Time Crime Center, the facility acts as a force multiplier for the department.

At the center’s launch, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson noted that other North Carolina cities that have made this investment “feel really good about the decision to do this.”

Gastonia’s Real-Time Crime Center has already proven its impact in the field. In January 2026, just minutes after a shooting, RTCC analysts used camera technology to locate the suspect’s burgundy Nissan and relay its location to patrol units in real time. That rapid coordination between analysts and officers allowed police to quickly narrow their search and safely apprehend the suspect, illustrating how technology, teamwork, and fast decision‑making can directly enhance community safety.

Privacy and Data Management

Video footage is stored for 30 days under state law, with exceptions for ongoing criminal cases and prosecutions. The intent is not constant monitoring of everyday life, but being prepared for the moments that matter most to community safety and critical incidents.

By combining clear policies with transparent communication, Gastonia demonstrates how a technology‑forward RTCC can balance powerful investigative tools with a strong commitment to privacy and responsible data management.

Topics Covered in This Case Study

Real-Time Crime Center design and implementation for mid‑sized cities
License plate reader (LPR) and live camera integration strategies
Federal funding sources: COPS Grant and ARPA allocation for RTCC projects
Annual operating costs and staffing models for 24/7 crime centers
Real‑time intelligence delivery to officers in the field
Nationwide law enforcement network connectivity (5,000+ agencies)
Drone first responder program planning and integration
Multi‑agency data sharing and community camera partnerships
Privacy‑focused surveillance technology deployment
Space planning and facility requirements for control room design
RFP development considerations for law enforcement technology
Ergonomic design principles for 24/7 operations centers
Video wall configuration and console layout optimization
Return on investment for public safety technology infrastructure
CAD system integration and video management platforms

Planning Your RTCC?

Fountainhead Control Rooms is a U.S.‑based leader in control room solutions, designing and building Real-Time Crime Centers and PSAP facilities across the country through a turnkey design‑build approach that supports agencies from early planning through final delivery. If you’re a city manager, police chief, or RTCC coordinator considering a Real-Time Crime Center, Fountainhead Control Rooms can help with space planning, facility requirements, RFP development, and installation so your RTCC is optimized for operational efficiency, officer safety, and community protection, and can bring your Real-Time Crime Center vision to life.