DeKalb County opens Real Time Crime Center, rolls out voluntary Connect DeKalb camera‑registration program

DeKalb County announced the opening of a Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) and the countywide rollout of Connect DeKalb, a voluntary program that lets residents and businesses register private security cameras with law enforcement.

The RTCC, described as part of DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson's Digital Shield Initiative, will combine live video feeds, data analytics and coordinated-response tools to give public‑safety officials “real time information when seconds matter,” according to an on‑air presentation of the new program. County officials cited an initial $2,000,000 investment to build the center and an $18,900,000 expansion of Flock Safety technology across the county, including license‑plate readers and fixed cameras.

Supporters said the technology is intended to speed investigations and improve officer and community safety. “We will be able to make a difference in not only keeping the community safer and the officers safer, but we'll be able to investigate crimes faster and in many cases prevent crime from occurring,” said Unidentified Speaker 2. An on‑camera speaker described typical current response times as “between 5 to 7” minutes and said a drone could be launched to reach a scene in “about 2 to 3 minutes,” presenting those figures as operational expectations tied to the new systems.

Flock Safety designated DeKalb as a "Flock Safe County" at the ribbon‑cutting event, the announcement said, framing the program as a shared platform connecting law enforcement, fire services, schools, businesses and neighborhoods. The county said the designation makes discounts and free installation available to qualifying residents and businesses.

Connect DeKalb is voluntary. Participants may register a camera's location only or opt to allow secure, police‑only portal access to video feeds, the presentation said. Officials emphasized that participation is a choice and that residents retain control over camera access. The program was described as intended to help police more quickly identify possible video evidence during investigations.

County officials directed residents and business owners to the program website for details and registration. The on‑air segment listed the site as connectdekalbcounty.org. The report was credited to Aviva Hoffman of DCTV.

Next steps and oversight: the county did not announce a timeline for when specific technologies will go live across all areas or publish a public privacy impact assessment during the segment. Funding and equipment totals were presented in the announcement; independent verification of operational performance, privacy protections and installation terms was not provided during this coverage.