Orange County’s Real Time Operations Center (RTOC) is pioneering new advancements in public safety through innovative use of technology.
In 2020, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department established The Technology Division, under the leadership of Dave Fontneau, Chief Information Officer of the division.
This was a major department reorganization that combined two disparate divisions into one. The goal was to centralize all technology resources under one command, reducing redundancy and creating a single vision of innovation across the organization. The Technology Division team comprises approximately 150 personnel. They support teams serving end users across the county in everything from public safety communications to dispatch and computer-aided dispatch, to more traditional IT areas such as infrastructure, security, hardware, application development, etc.
Fontneau’s team began planning to consolidate operations spread across multiple locations into a single new facility that would act as a technology incubator, focusing on innovation. The Orange County RTOC aims to co-locate various departments and federal agencies.
Before partnering with RGB Spectrum, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department faced significant challenges in managing disparate resources across multiple locations. The need for a unified system that could support real-time operations and continuous technological innovation was evident. Fontneau and his team sought a solution that could integrate various applications, support high-level collaboration, and facilitate quick, effective response to incidents.
The decision to partner with RGB Spectrum stemmed from the need for a flexible, high-performance video processing and control system. The team evaluated various solutions and found that RGB Spectrum consistently stood out due to its flexibility and ability to cater to the unique needs of the RTOC.
The Orange County RTOC utilizes RGB Spectrum’s XtendPoint KVM system to manage and distribute video and data across the facility. This system allows for integration and real-time sharing of information, crucial for effective incident management. A key feature is the ability to replicate and display content across different devices and locations. This flexibility ensures that the RTOC can adapt to various scenarios for robust support in emergency responses.
The implementation of RGB Spectrum’s solutions has transformed the Orange County RTOC into a state-of-the-art facility. The ability to share realtime data across multiple platforms has significantly improved operational efficiency and incident management. “We’re very excited about where things are going,” Fontneau noted. “This is going to change the way we do policing. The new facility’s design, inspired by tech giants like Google and others, aims to attract and retain top talent by creating an engaging and dynamic work environment. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the RTOC remains at the forefront of technological innovation in public safety.”
