Public Safety

Gastonia RTCC: Real Time Intelligence for a Growing City

Gastonia Police Department

At a Glance

Solution

Real-Time Crime Center

Location

Gastonia, North Carolina

Products Used

Custom RTCC Operator Consoles, Purpose Built Video Wall

Fountainhead Control Rooms designed the Gastonia RTCC for the Gastonia Police Department in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Real Time Crime Center brings live video, license plate reader data, analytics and law enforcement information into a centralized environment that helps officers receive critical intelligence before arriving on scene. Fountainhead planned the ergonomic console layout, shared video wall, operator sightlines and infrastructure to support future technology growth.

Gastonia RTCC Overview

The Gastonia Police Department operates the Real Time Crime Center as a central information hub. Staff use the center 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.

The goal is to use technology as a force multiplier. The RTCC helps improve response times, enhance officer safety and support more informed policing.

How Fountainhead Designed the Gastonia RTCC

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

Fountainhead partners with agencies from early planning through final delivery. This approach ensures the space, technology and furniture work together as one unified system.

Read the full case study

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)

How the Gastonia RTCC Was Funded

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.

Gastonia RTCC Results and Real World Impact

The RTCC helps officers make better informed decisions in the field. This can lead 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, RTCC analysts responded within minutes after a shooting. They used camera technology to locate the suspect's burgundy Nissan and relay its location to patrol units. That coordination helped police quickly narrow their search and safely apprehend the suspect. The incident showed how technology, teamwork and fast decisions can improve 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.

Gastonia RTCC Planning Insights

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 a Real Time Crime Center?

Fountainhead Control Rooms designs and builds Real Time Crime Centers and PSAP facilities across the country. Its turnkey approach supports agencies from early planning through final delivery. If you are a city manager, police chief or RTCC coordinator planning a Real Time Crime Center, Fountainhead can help. Services include space planning, facility requirements, RFP development and installation. The result is an RTCC designed for operational efficiency, officer safety and community protection.

Project Video