Miami Gardens police unveil new crime center

Center will gather real-time video, 911 recordings, crime photos

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Gardens Police Department held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for its new Real-Time Crime Center.

Officials in the city are proud of their latest addition, which is fully equipped with cutting-edge technology that will change the way the department fights and prevents crime.

"What this allows us to do is ultimate police presence without multiplying police bodies," Mayor Oliver Gilbert said

The Real-Time Crime Center will be used as a tech-aid for police while they're investigating criminal activity. It will gather all video, incidents, 911 records and crime photos in real time. 

"This is something that is used in an additional tool to stay above the curve of policing in the 21st  century," Chief Antonio Brooklen said.

The technology center also has software that will detect how many shots were fired in the city on a monthly basis and license plate readers.

"This is something that will make South Florida safer," Brooklen said. "We are setting the benchmark for policing in South Florida." 

The Real-Time Crime Center was created through the city's $60 million general obligation bond which was approved by residents of Miami Gardens.

"It's the Miami Gardens residents that did this, absolutely," Gilbert said. "There will be people who will choose to do bad things; we want them to know that we are committed in every respect to catching them."