Chamblee, GA Real Time Crime Center – At‑a‑Glance
City Context and Public Safety Goals
Chamblee is a diverse, fast‑growing city of about 32,000 residents in DeKalb County, part of metro Atlanta. Like many inner‑ring suburbs, it faces big‑city challenges—vehicle thefts, property crime, and regional incidents that spill across jurisdictional lines—without the staffing or footprint of a major metro department. The Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) helps bridge that gap by giving officers instant access to video, data, and license plate intelligence in one place so they can see emerging situations and coordinate with neighboring agencies in real time.
Purpose and Outcomes
The RTCC enhances public safety through technology, data‑driven policing, and real‑time intelligence that supports patrol, traffic, and investigations. From the center, analysts and officers monitor live camera feeds, receive alerts from automated license plate readers, and quickly share critical information with units in the field and surrounding agencies like DeKalb County Police. This capability helps prevent crime, speed response times, improve case clearance, and locate at‑risk or abducted individuals more quickly by sharing data across jurisdictions.
Funding, Timeline, and Investment
Demolition and construction of the RTCC space at Chamblee Police Department began in August 2025, converting existing square footage into a purpose‑built operations environment. The City of Chamblee invested about $2 million in construction and equipment, making real‑time technology a core part of its public safety strategy. The facility opened with a ribbon‑cutting in early March 2026, placing Chamblee among the smaller metro‑Atlanta cities now operating a modern RTCC.
Facility Design, Equipment, and Operations
The RTCC is equipped with 80 PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras positioned throughout the city, 80 Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), and a state-of-the-art command center featuring a 6×2 video wall configuration with two 98-inch displays. The facility is staffed by trained operators who monitor feeds 24/7, providing real-time intelligence to patrol officers and detectives. The RTCC also integrates with neighboring agencies’ systems, allowing for seamless information sharing across jurisdictions.
Fountainhead Control Rooms Partnership
The Chamblee Police Department RTCC was designed and built by Fountainhead Control Rooms, a Georgia-based firm specializing in purpose-built control room environments for public safety agencies. Fountainhead provided the operations room layout, video wall integration, operator workstation configuration, and overall facility design – transforming the raw space into a fully functional, ergonomic command center optimized for 24/7 operations. This partnership demonstrates how specialized control room integrators bring both technical expertise and operational knowledge to public safety projects.
Leadership Perspective and Value to Peers
Police Chief Michael Dieppa calls the RTCC a “major investment in the safety of our community,” noting that the technology helps officers make informed decisions quickly, prevent crime, and keep residents and businesses safe. He also underscores the goal of using the center as a regional asset by working closely with DeKalb County Police and other nearby agencies when crimes or critical events cross city lines. For other small and mid‑sized cities, Chamblee shows how a sub‑$3M investment in a purpose‑built operations room, modern video wall, and integrated camera/ALPR network can deliver “big‑city” real‑time capabilities in a compact footprint tailored to local staffing and budget realities.
Topics covered:
- RTCC layout and control room design to support rapid decision-making
- Technology integration and operator workflow for clear information sharing
- Furniture and ergonomic considerations for 24/7 operations
- Multi-agency coordination in action
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Inside the Dunwoody Real Time Crime Center