El Mirage signs one-year MOU to join Glendale-hosted West Valley Real Time Crime Center pilot

The El Mirage Common Council approved a memorandum of understanding to participate in a 12-month proof-of-concept with the Glendale Police Department's West Valley Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), enabling the city to share real-time access to cameras, license-plate readers, gunshot detection, drone feeds and other sensor data through a Motorola platform hosted by Glendale.

Police leadership presented the RTCC as a force multiplier that aggregates multiple data sources into a single platform for real-time decision-making. "When a crime is called into the dispatch center, immediately the Motorola software aggregates all of our information and real-time decisions can be made as the officers are responding to the scene," the police chief said. The chief said Glendale hosts the infrastructure and Avondale has already joined; using an existing center avoids the prohibitive costs of building a standalone RTCC.

Under the proof-of-concept, El Mirage would assign one city employee (an existing staff member reassigned during the pilot) to work from the Glendale RTCC; when an El Mirage employee is not present, Glendale or other participating agencies would assist with El Mirage priority 1 incidents as capacity allows. The chief described staffing at the RTCC as approximately five people at present and said the center currently does not operate fully 24/7, noting Glendale typically closes around 3 a.m. and reopens around 6 a.m.; El Mirage staffing needs would be evaluated in the proof-of-concept period.

The chief also discussed an option to deploy a "drone in a box" to provide near-real-time aerial footage for high-priority calls, and said any drone purchase during the pilot would be funded from asset forfeiture funds if approved. The pilot is intended to run 12 months, after which the chief will report back with an analysis and a recommendation on whether to pursue a formal intergovernmental agreement and further investment.

Council members expressed support and asked about future costs, staffing and monitoring. Council member Aldridge said she supported the tool but worried about future sticker shock should the city decide to stand up its own center. Council member Norton McDaniel asked whether a single employee would be able to serve El Mirage in the event of simultaneous incidents; the chief responded that when an El Mirage FTE is on-site the priority would be El Mirage incidents and that participating agencies provide mutual support when staff are not present.

Mayor Hermosillo moved to approve the MOU; Vice Mayor Parsons seconded. The council approved the motion by voice vote.