Drones, live feeds and LPRs power Paterson’s new RTOC

Paterson, New Jersey has spent years under a microscope, following repeated allegations of corruption and excessive force that ultimately led to state oversight in 2023.

Now, state officials say the city’s police department is entering a new phase, one built less on promises and more on screens, sensors, and software.

Earlier this month, the Paterson Police Department officially launched its Real Time Operations Center, or RTOC, alongside a significant expansion of its drone program, as Police1 reports.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin called the move a turning point, arguing that Paterson officers were previously operating without the technological backbone that has become standard in large American cities.

The RTOC functions as a centralized command hub, pulling together live video feeds and data streams from across the city. City owned cameras, gunshot detection systems, automatic license plate readers, and body worn camera analytics all flow into a single operational picture.

Supervisors can now monitor unfolding incidents in real time, coordinate responses across divisions, and relay actionable information to officers on the street within seconds.

State officials framed the center as a cornerstone of intelligence led policing, designed to improve speed, clarity, and accountability at the same time.

Skydio drones move from specialty tool to daily asset

The technology push does not stop at fixed cameras and dashboards. Paterson has also expanded a drone program that has quietly been in place for about five years, previously limited to the Emergency Response Team.

Drones are now available to multiple units and are being used for a wide range of missions, including search and rescue operations, active investigations, large scale incidents, and crash reconstruction.

From the images released by the department, Paterson appears to be operating Skydio X10 drones, paired with dock based deployment systems that allow for rapid launch and recovery without requiring officers to be physically on scene.

That combination matters. Docked drones integrated into an RTOC environment can be deployed within moments, providing overhead situational awareness while officers are still en route.

For perimeter searches, missing persons cases, or evolving incidents, that aerial view can reshape decision making before the first patrol car arrives.

Investigators are also using drones to capture overhead imagery and generate detailed three dimensional scene maps. Officials say this shortens investigations, reduces road closures, and improves safety for both officers and civilians, all while producing more precise documentation.

According to Officer in Charge Patrick Murray, the impact is immediate. Real time aerial intelligence improves coordination, reduces uncertainty, and allows officers to respond with far more precision than was previously possible.

Data driven results and a broader surveillance network

The RTOC and drone program are part of a larger modernization effort under state oversight, one that also includes training, supervision, and data driven enforcement strategies.

The department has also adopted the Fusus platform, which allows residents and businesses to voluntarily share private security camera feeds with police during incidents.

That opt in network gives officers greater situational awareness before arrival, while also expanding the city’s sensor footprint without mandating private participation. Officials say it strengthens community partnerships while improving officer safety during responses.

The department points to early results as evidence the approach is working. Year end CompStat data shows shooting incidents down more than 40 percent and shooting victims reduced by over 50 percent compared to the previous year. Robberies and aggravated assaults are also trending downward so far this year.

Beyond enforcement, Paterson police have increased their use of digital communication and social media, pushing public safety updates and emphasizing transparency. State officials describe the result as one of the most engaged law enforcement audiences in New Jersey.

Attorney General Platkin summed it up bluntly. These systems, he said, are built to last, and they represent what happens when a department is given modern tools, structure, and oversight at the same time.

DroneXL’s Take

Paterson’s RTOC looks less like a flashy tech upgrade and more like a structural reset. When dock deployed Skydio X10 drones, live camera feeds, and license plate readers all converge in a single operations center, policing shifts from reactive to anticipatory.

The real test will not be the screens or the statistics, but whether this level of visibility continues to be matched by restraint, accountability, and public trust. Technology can illuminate a city in real time, but it also leaves no place to hide.

Photo credit: N.J. PD