Sneak peek of the San Diego Police Department’s new Real-Time Operations Center

The San Diego Police Department offered a rare inside look at its new Real-Time Operations Center.

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Police Department offered a rare inside look at its new Real-Time Operations Center on Wednesday. 

The RTOC is designed to be a centralized hub to help officers in the field and improve SDPD response times. 

“When I started as Chief, one of the top priorities for me was making sure we operate at max power, that we are as efficient and as effective as we can possibly be with the limited resources that we have. This center was at the tip of the sphere for that,” SDPD Chief Scott Wahl said. 

The RTOC began operating in July 2025, but SDPD told CBS 8 that they did not want to host a celebratory ribbon-cutting event until they could ensure the department’s Automated License Plate Recognition, or flock camera, program would be continued. The San Diego City Council ultimately voted to continue to program last month. 

SDPD said the technology used at the center, including ALPR cameras, has already helped to solve cases. 

“You have a supportive element now to support the officers that are responding to the call,” Wahl said.

SDPD told CBS 8 the RTOC project cost about $89,000. $49,000 was from the San Diego Police Foundation, and $40,000 was from the city to bring the center to life. 

“And in these times where resources are limited, where we have a need to recruit more officers, we have to find ways to work more efficiently, and to be able to still deliver on that commitment that we will be there in your time of need,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said.