DeKalb committee backs $18.9 million, 10‑year 'Digital Shield' real‑time crime center for full board review

DeKalb County's employee relations and public safety committee on Tuesday voted to recommend that the full Board of Commissioners approve a 10‑year plan to build a countywide real‑time crime center and camera network, a package staff and police leaders say will expand investigative capacity without adding large numbers of officers.

Chief Padrick, who led the presentation, described the proposal—branded "Digital Shield"—as an integrated Flock operating system that centralizes video feeds, license‑plate recognition, body‑worn camera integration, computer‑aided dispatch and a "free‑form" search tool. "Digital Shield is designed to extend officer reach without adding a staffing drain," Chief Padrick said during the committee briefing.

Why it matters: County staff said the package would give investigators faster, more detailed leads and faster situational awareness for officers by pushing live 911 and camera information into the same platform. The proposal includes an increase in countywide license‑plate recognition cameras to 271, deployment of pan‑tilt‑zoom surveillance cameras, four drones intended as first responders, three additional mobile security trailers, and two gunshot‑detection sensors; staff said hardware, software, implementation and upgrades are all included in the vendor contract.

Key details: Officials told the committee the contract is structured as a phased, 10‑year commitment with a total price of about $18,900,000. Staff said the first year begins with roughly $561,000 in planned spending, with annual escalations and technology upgrades built into the contract. Chief Padrick said upgrades and professional services are included so the county would not have to return for future one‑off purchases.

Operations and safeguards: The package integrates 911 feeds so officers and analysts can receive live 911 information and video relevant to a territory before a dispatcher posts a call. Chief Padrick said the county intends to staff a 24/7 real‑time crime center primarily with civilian crime analysts and that drone operators would receive FAA‑required certifications. On evidence handling, staff said video identified as evidence would be assigned a case number and preserved through the county's existing records management evidence portal, which prosecutors already can access for case work.

Questions and limits: Commissioners asked how smaller municipalities and private cameras would connect; staff said Dunwoody and several regional jurisdictions already use the vendor platform and that the system can integrate third‑party feeds. Commissioners also asked whether damage or vandalism to field equipment would be charged to the county; staff said the contract covers replacement costs. Staff noted that drone operations would follow FAA rules and that some program details—such as precise camera counts and exact docking locations for drones—were derived from crime‑analysis needs and could be adjusted as the phased rollout continues.

Budget and timeline: Committee staff said the 2025 budget included $2,000,000 for a real‑time crime center and that the additional countywide build‑out would be covered under the vendor contract spread over 10 years. Committee members and presenters discussed earlier estimates near $16–16.5 million and said the current scope, adding two additional drones and more coverage, raised the total to about $18.9 million.

Committee action and next steps: After questions and discussion, Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson moved to recommend approval to the full Board of Commissioners; Commissioner Shakira Johnson seconded. The committee voted to send the item to the full board with a recommendation for approval. The full board will take a final vote on the contract at a later meeting.

What to watch: If the board approves the contract, implementation will proceed in phases and staff said upgrades and training are included; commissioners asked staff to return with placement details and integration plans for local partners and code officers.