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Police seek to expand ARTIC real‑time center, install school lockboxes and step up recruitment
Summary
Anne Arundel police briefed council on the Real‑Time Information Center (ARTIC) and asked FY‑26 funding for recurring technology fees and camera upgrades; they also proposed lockboxes at all public schools and described ongoing recruitment and vacancy challenges.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department told the council on May 13 it wants to expand its real‑time information center (ARTIC) from peak‑hour coverage to a full‑time capability and requested recurring funding to keep camera, license‑plate reader and analytic subscriptions operational.
Police Chief Amal Lourd described ARTIC as a technology‑driven hub that aggregates CCTV, license‑plate readers and other sensors to supply patrol officers with real‑time intelligence. The department previously received a COPS grant to stand up the center and now asks the county to cover a recurring annual fee for the platform and associated cameras. Budget staff said last year’s funding for a license‑plate reader pilot can be used differently now that more competitive vendor options exist.
Chief Lourd also asked for $75,000 to purchase secured lockboxes for keys or key cards at each of the county’s 126 public schools so police can quickly access buildings during an emergency. The department said the lockboxes tested by the training academy were durable and selected models that resist forced entry; the department emphasized proper operational security measures around access and log‑in procedures.
Council members questioned staffing and recruitment. Police officials acknowledged a continuing vacancy picture: the department said its FY‑26 budget keeps sworn staffing near current levels and adds five analysts and two officers to staff ARTIC. Chief Lourd and budget staff said the department has added online testing and a pre‑hire step to the recruiting pipeline to reduce candidate losses between testing and academy start; they also noted a recent COPS‑funded recruitment video project in FY‑26 to help outreach.
Why this matters: ARTIC and related camera investments are intended to supplement patrol and intelligence‑led policing, not to replace officers. School lockboxes are a school‑safety measure designed to reduce response times during an active‑threat or other emergency. The council asked for additional detail on recurring ARTIC costs and for a timeline and operations plan showing when ARTIC can shift to full‑time coverage.
No votes were taken; police agreed to provide more detailed cost breakdowns and to share sign‑up information for residents who wish to register private security‑camera feeds with ARTIC.
