ASU Police Real Time Analysis Center earns national recognition

For the second year in a row, Arizona State University Police Department’s Real Time Analysis Center was recognized by the National Real Time Crime Center Association during its annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

This year, ASU’s RTAC, along with eight regional real-time crime centers and corporate partners, were honored for outstanding teamwork and collaboration in strengthening and developing other centers across the country. The center’s commitment to knowledge sharing and innovation continues to shape how real time intelligence is used to prevent and solve crimes nationwide.

Launched in the summer of 2023, RTAC and its team of intelligence analysts have made significant progress in enhancing safety across all ASU locations. By providing officers with timely situational awareness, actionable data and proactive monitoring of high-theft areas, the center has quickly become a defining innovation in crime mitigation and case resolution.

And now, with the team's expansion of more intelligence analysts, RTAC is capable of operating nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, mirroring the dedication of its colleagues in dispatch and patrol.

“ASU’s commitment to safety is embodied by the dedicated employees who work around the clock to protect our community,” said ASU Police Chief John Thompson. “Their vigilance and professionalism underscore the university’s ongoing priority to provide a secure environment for all.”

As one of the nation’s most innovative universities, ASU frequently hosts high-profile events in academics, research and athletics. In an era of heightened event security, having RTAC embedded within the university’s police department provides a critical advantage that helps keep ASU a premier and trusted venue.

With access to more than 4,000 university cameras and integration capabilities with external systems, RTAC serves as a real-time command hub for first responders during major events. The center brings together police, fire and emergency medical services to ensure seamless coordination, communication and safety throughout each event.

“In a medical emergency, seconds count,” said RTAC manager Chris Hopkins. “Having the ability to bring up a live visual pinpointing a location allows us to optically triage the situation and call in additional support before a formal request is made. It also helps us coordinate with outside services, ensuring ambulances and other responders have a clear path to arrive quickly. Seconds count, and RTAC helps us make the most of every one of them by delivering real-time information that drives faster, smarter decisions.”

The success of ASU’s Real Time Analysis Center reflects the power of collaboration in creating safer communities. By uniting campus police, local first responders and technology partners, RTAC exemplifies how teamwork and shared intelligence can transform safety operations for a community. This commitment to partnership ensures that every decision — whether during a major event or a daily patrol — is informed, coordinated and centered on protecting the ASU community.

As police departments all over the country begin building and developing centers like RTAC, the ASU police and university community will continue to experience the growing benefits of this forward-thinking model. With centers like RTAC now becoming a reality in the fight against crime, ASU continues to lead the way in innovation, safety and collaboration.