Birmingham debuts new tech hub to help solve crime in real time

| October 20, 2021 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2021/10/real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:4:"file";s:50:"2021/10/real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-336x189.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-771x434.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-768x432.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-800x450.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-553x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-470x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:50:"real_time_crime_center-e1634682728539-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Birmingham Police Real Time Crime Center
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Cody Owens
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Birmingham City Council Office
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:11:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:853;s:4:"file";s:27:"real_time_crime_center.jpeg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-336x224.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:17:"medium_large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-768x512.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-771x514.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"real_time_crime_center-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-800x450.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-467x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-398x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"real_time_crime_center-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

)
1662688336 
1634727591
Birmingham Police Real Time Crime Center

The Birmingham Police Real Time Crime Center.

Cody Owens, Birmingham City Council Office

Birmingham leaders officially opened the city’s Real Time Crime Center Tuesday, a project intended to give the Birmingham Police Department new technological tools to help resolve crime more quickly.

Since 2019 Mayor Randall Woodfin has advocated for a technological hub that will assist city police.

“The Real Time Crime center provides BPD with more information, which is truly needed. And more resources, which is truly needed to respond to situations in a more efficient way,” Woodfin said.

The nearly $3 million facility will operate 19 hours a day.

Patrick Smith

Cody Owens,Birmingham City Council Office
Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.

“Our goal is to make sure that we are operating in the most effective and efficient manner that we possibly can to resolve crime,” said Police Chief Patrick Smith.

Having real-time information can increase safety for officers and the community, said Smith. The department has been working with other cities with similar centers such as Montgomery, Huntsville and Mobile.

Birmingham’s Real Time Crime Center features facial recognition technology, license plate readers and a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) system intended to make solving crimes easier and discourage future crimes.

Birmingham Police Officers

Cody Owens,Birmingham City Council Office
Birmingham Police Officers at the ribbon cutting ceremony of The Real Time Crime Center.

Some people in the community have pushed back against this effort due to the amount of money that would be spent and out of concern for how the technology could be used against civilians.

So far in 2021, Birmingham police have investigated 81 homicides, ruling 12 of them justified. Right now, the police department has 41 unsolved cases. The department said they anticipate the new technology hub will play an important role in resolving those cases.

 

Rick Davies, singer and co-founder of Supertramp, has died

The British musician co-founded the rock band Supertramp, which spurred hits like "Give A Little Bit" and "The Logical Song" in the 1970s.

Rupert Murdoch buys out 3 of his kids, cementing his conservative media empire

The owner of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and dozens of other media properties has settled a legal fight with three of his own children over who would control his companies after his death.

Estate of Jeffrey Epstein gives Congress ‘birthday book’ allegedly signed by Trump

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said the book included a tawdry drawing and note that appeared to include President Trump's signature. Trump had previously denied its existence.

DHS launches immigration crackdowns in Chicago, Boston

These announcements by DHS are just the latest escalation of federal action in U.S. cities including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — all led by Democrats.

New teen thriller ‘Sisters in the Wind’ finds drama in hidden identities

Angeline Boulley, author of the hit Firekeeper's Daughter, writes thrillers set in Native American communities in northern Michigan, like the ones where her family has lived for generations.

Christoph Von Dohnányi, longtime conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, has died

Known for his intellectual and illuminating touch on the podium, the refined conductor was also surprisingly outspoken when it came to politics and his peers.

More Crime Coverage