Peoria details new aviation unit and real-time crime center; officials call both 'force multipliers'

Peoria police and fire commanders on Tuesday described how a recently acquired helicopter and a newly opened Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) are already helping operations and will expand the city's emergency and public-safety capabilities.

Commander Smith and Sergeant Jared Wolf of the Peoria Police Department briefed Mayor Jason Beck and the City Council on the aviation unit's staffing, training and maintenance. Lieutenant Jason Tarrant and Sergeant Michael Lesher described the RTCC's early operations and several cases where integrated cameras and license-plate readers helped locate suspects and endangered residents.

Aviation details: Commander Smith said the department's Bell 505 was purchased in 2023 using grant funds and is capable of day-night search-and-rescue operations. He described current staffing and training progress: three tactical flight officers trained and two in pilot training, seven fire helicopter rescue technicians trained, and a pilot-instructor (Sergeant Wolf) certified in-house. Smith said training aims for full deployability in April 2026 and that the city has budgeted to add an aviation maintenance technician in FY26 to reduce sworn overtime.

Maintenance and availability: speakers warned single-aircraft operations have limits: scheduled and unscheduled maintenance can put a helicopter out of service for extended periods (industry averages cited), and a second aircraft would reduce mission downtime. Smith provided a maintenance schedule (24, 50, 100, 150, 300-hour checks) and said some overhauls require sending the aircraft to specialized centers.

Real Time Crime Center: Lieutenant Jason Tarrant said the RTCC was stood up with Department of Public Safety funding and staffed in February 2025. The center integrates cameras, license-plate readers (LPR), traffic and 911 feeds to provide real-time situational awareness. Tarrant described early cases: a domestic-violence arrest where the RTCC tracked a suspect to a parking lot and guided units to apprehend him; and the location and safe return of an elderly missing driver using LPR hits and air support.

Privacy and oversight: council members asked about surveillance and facial recognition. Tarrant said the RTCC does not use facial recognition, that camera/LPR feeds are public-facing and placed where there is no expectation of privacy, and that access is audited with time-stamped logs and proficiency training for users.

Why this matters: presenters said both programs are "force multipliers" that improve response times and officer safety. Commander Smith said early air-unit deployments supported felony arrests, missing-person searches and critical incidents; Lieutenant Tarrant said RTCC analysts frequently identify subjects or hazards before officers arrive, shortening response time and aiding prosecutions.

Ending: Councilmembers praised staff and asked technical and staffing questions about flight hours, duty cycles, coverage windows, mutual-aid during downtime, and camera integrations with Peoria Unified School District. Officials said they will continue to expand integrations and training and that the aviation unit aims for broader coverage with a second helicopter.