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El Mirage signs on to Glendale-hosted Real Time Crime Center proof of concept
Summary
The council approved a memorandum of understanding to participate in a 12-month proof-of-concept with the City of Glendale's West Valley Real Time Crime Center (RTCC); police said the arrangement requires assignment of a city staff member but no cash expenditure during the pilot period.
The El Mirage Common Council on June 3 approved a memorandum of understanding to join a Glendale-hosted West Valley Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) in a 12-month proof-of-concept. Police leaders told council the RTCC aggregates live and archived data (cameras, license-plate readers, gunshot detection, drones and other sensors) into a single platform to support real-time decision-making during crimes in progress.
El Mirage police said Glendale has an existing RTCC and is hosting the pilot; Avondale Police Department is also participating. The city's participation during the proof-of-concept requires assigning a local employee to work at the center but, according to police, does not require cash payments from El Mirage during the 12-month trial. Police said Glendale will assist with El Mirage priority-one incidents when El Mirage does not have staff on-site and that a quid pro quo arrangement allows El Mirage to assist Glendale when Glendale is available.
Chief (El Mirage Police Department) described operational details: RTCC staff monitor aggregated feeds and radio channels, can direct field units in real time, and the proof-of-concept may include a "drone in a box" asset to provide aerial support for priority incidents; police said any drone purchase would be funded from asset forfeiture funds if pursued. The chief added that Glendale's center currently does not operate 24/7 (it closes in the early morning hours) and staffing levels vary by call volume; the proof-of-concept would include an evaluation period after 12 months to assess whether an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and additional investment are warranted.
Councilmembers broadly supported the pilot but raised questions about potential long-term costs and staffing. Councilmember Aldridge said he supported the tools but worried about "sticker shock" when the city later sees full operating costs; the chief responded that if El Mirage sought to build its own RTCC the cost to stand up basic infrastructure could be on the order of more than $1 million. Councilmember Norton McDaniel asked how prioritization would work when simultaneous incidents occurred in partner cities; police said when an El Mirage FTE is assigned the priority is El Mirage, and when the city has no FTE Glendale or other partners would assist with priority-one incidents.
Mayor moved approval of the MOU; Vice Mayor Parsons seconded. The motion passed on voice vote.
Why it matters: The RTCC pilot would give El Mirage police access to a regional aggregation platform and operational tools that can improve situational awareness and response, with the city evaluating costs and effectiveness at the end of the 12-month period.
(Reported from the June 3, 2025 El Mirage Common Council meeting.)
