Underscoring its commitment to the safety and security of the community and officers, the Yonkers Police Department has announced the opening of its new AWARE Crime Control Centre, a technology-enhanced room that fuses real-time video from the city’s network of safety cameras with other critical data and geospatial mapping. The AWARE centre will allow Yonkers Police officers to respond more efficiently to everyday events and emergencies. The department has partnered with Motorola Solutions, a global leader in public safety and enterprise security technology, to modernise its existing public safety infrastructure and integrate new and existing technology systems.
“We are committed to making sure our Yonkers Police has all of the necessary tools to lower crime and enhance the quality of life for our residents,” said Mayor Mike Spano. “The opening of the AWARE centre is yet another example of our investment in city safety and commitment to innovation, collaboration and transparency with and on behalf of the community.”
Commissioner Chris Sapienza, added: “This opening marks a pivotal milestone for our department, one that would not have been possible without the support of our administration. Time is of the essence in any emergency. Our new AWARE centre brings together critical information from across our community and public safety systems so that our incident managers and officers in the field know what’s happening and can respond appropriately.”
The AWARE centre gives First Responders – from 9-1-1 dispatchers to command staff – a single, consolidated view of an incident as it unfolds. It addresses common challenges presented by siloed data and disconnected backend systems that can hinder emergency response. The following will feed information into the AWARE centre:
- Body-worn camera system which captures critical evidence and increases transparency
- Computer-aided dispatch, incident awareness and mapping, field reporting and evidence management software which enables effective workflow management from the initial 9-1-1 call to case closure
- The CityProtect portal allows community members to submit anonymous tips, view crime mapping and create non-emergency online reports
- License plate readers help identify stolen vehicles or those associated with criminal activity
- Yonkers’ network of safety cameras help identify unusual activity as it unfolds
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are part of the Yonkers Police drone-as-first-responder pilot (DFR) programme, providing real-time eyes on the scene of a 9-1-1 call before officers arrive (rollout summer 2023)
“Yonkers Police Department has long been an early adopter of public safety technology,” said Dave White, Vice President, Motorola Solutions. “It has been a privilege to work with it to introduce technology solutions that increase community engagement, improve safety and support its mission to protect the lives and property of residents and visitors.”
The AWARE centre is part of the department’s Crime Control Strategies Unit, which leverages precision policing for crime reduction – utilising advanced analytics, data analysis and technology to enhance prevention and response strategies.
