EDMONTON – In a facility tucked within the RCMP K Division Headquarters in Edmonton, a technological powerhouse known as the Real Time Operations Centre (RTOC) is revolutionizing how law enforcement responds to critical events. This is the only one of its kind in Canada, offering unmatched operational support for RCMP officers across Alberta.
The RTOC, which operates 24/7, tracks suspects in real time and provides officers on the ground instant support during emergency situations. When an RCMP 911 operator – at either of the two dispatch centres located in Edmonton and Red Deer – receives a critical call, it is swiftly transferred to the RTOC, where the team is ready to mobilize resources, coordinate various units, and manage operations such as the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Air Services, Police Dog Services and other law enforcement agencies.
"An operations centre like this doesn’t exist anywhere else in Canada,” said RCMP Inspector Ryan Breitkreuz about the unique facility.
The RTOC leverages cutting-edge technology to help manage crises and plays a crucial role in coordinating response efforts during high-risk incidents, he said.
The centre consolidates multiple streams of data—911 calls, real-time surveillance feeds, incident reports, and even social media updates—into one central hub. Criminal analysts on-site quickly process and analyze this information, ensuring that officers in the field receive timely, actionable intelligence to make informed decisions, said Breitkreuz.
In the RTOC, everything is about efficiency, collaboration, and rapid response.
Behind the scenes at the RTOC
On Jan. 16, Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer, along with Councillors Curtis Snell and Laura Morie, toured the RTOC, gaining a firsthand look at the advanced technology and skilled coordination behind the scenes.
Westlock RCMP Staff Sergeant Jeff Sehn, who arranged the tour, emphasized the importance of public transparency.
“We were pleased to offer mayor and councillors a behind-the-scenes look at our Real Time Operations Centre," said Sehn. "This tour provided an opportunity to showcase the advanced technologies and strategic coordination that enable our officers to respond quickly and effectively to incidents.
"Policing is so much more than just having a police vehicle on the rSoad, it involves complex, real-time decision making and collaboration behind the scenes," he added. "Transparency is key, and we believe in keeping the public informed about the critical work we do to ensure safety in our community.”
The centre is staffed by a cohesive elite team during each shift, which includes a S/Sgt., a Sgt., an OCC operator, two dedicated criminal analysts, a watch command dispatcher and a case manager.
On several massive monitors – larger than 100 inches – as well as numerous desktop computers, they monitor and respond to everything from emergency alerts and homicides to kidnappings and fleeing suspects.
In the event of an emergency, officers in the field have a direct line to the RTOC via panic buttons on their body cameras. A simple press of the button shows the team the officer’s exact location, allowing the RTOC to dispatch help immediately.
State-of-the-Art technology
At the heart of the RTOC's operations are advanced technologies like GPS tracking, live video feeds, and real-time communication tools. The enormous monitors display and follow the locations of all responding units, as well as the suspects they are pursuing, providing a comprehensive view of the situation on the ground. On the screen, every officer in the field is shown as a blue dot.
Officers can access the RTOC’s real-time surveillance data via their mobile devices, thanks to the Andriod Team Awareness Kit (ATAK).
The ATAK system allows officers to see the same information at the centre, on their phones, no matter where they are, said Breitkreuz. This seamless integration of technology ensures that everyone involved has the most up-to-date details, which is essential for quick decision-making during high-pressure dangerous situations.
In addition to GPS tracking and surveillance, the RTOC has access to specialized tools like infrared cameras. They are on the police helicopters and the officers at detachments also have thermal imaging tools.
These tools help identify suspects and track their movements even in difficult conditions, such as smoke or low visibility. The RTOC team can watch the suspects on the giant screens and relay strategic information to officers on the ground.
Collaboration with other agencies
The RTOC doesn't work in isolation. It coordinates with local law enforcement agencies, including the Edmonton and Calgary Police Services, the Alberta Sheriffs, as well CN and CP rail. This integrated approach allows for a highly effective response when multiple events unfold simultaneously, such as during large-scale public safety operations, said Inspector Breitkreuz.
"We can handle multiple simultaneous events based on safety and severity,” he said, adding that, if needed, other trained supervisors would be deployed to the streets. This flexibility allows the RTOC to manage numerous high-priority incidents at once.
On their huge monitors, the RTOC team of about eight people can assist officers as they watch incidents unfold in all parts of the province, from congested cities such Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge, to remote and isolated wooded regions in northern Alberta.
Handling Information from multiple sources
The RTOC’s ability to work with a wide variety of information sources is one of its key strengths.
"We work with whatever information we have at the time," said Troy Savinkoff, RCMP media relations officer. This can include everything from police data to open-source intelligence, such as tracking a suspect’s social media activity or monitoring the movements of their cell phone and vehicle on the giant screens.
This information is analyzed quickly by criminal analysts on site. This comprehensive approach to intelligence helps officers in the field respond more effectively to emerging threats, said Inspector Breitkreuz.
A record of success
BC RCMP has an operational centre but it doesn’t have the capabilities as the Alberta RCMP RTOC.
“The Alberta RCMP – K Div. have a more operational first responder command, leadership and innovation than our B.C. counterpart, which is used as more of an intelligence centre,” said Savinkoff.
The Alberta RCMP Real Time Operations Centre is more than just a hub for technology and coordination; it’s a proven asset to public safety. In 2024 alone, the RTOC assisted with more than 15,000 calls, helping police respond faster and more efficiently to emergencies.
The RTOC has its own IT support team, and the centre's advanced technology provides real-time intelligence, and seamless coordination between agencies, said Inspector Breitkreuz.
