SPD’s new operations hub is actively addressing crime as it happens.

Excerpt: The Sarasota Police Department’s Real-Time Operations Center

Less than a month after the four new workstations hummed to life in the Sarasota Police Department’s Real-Time Operations Center, it faced a high-profile test.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on February 10, 2025, June Fenton, 72, crashed her car into Taylor Bennett and her two children — 2-year-old Rio and 5-month-old Kiylan — while they were crossing U.S. 301. Tragically, the children died at the scene, and Taylor was left in a coma for two months before succumbing to her injuries.

Fenton fled the scene and hid at home.

Within 48 hours, the Real-Time Operations Center identified her as the suspect, leading to her arrest by the Sarasota Police Department on March 3 after an investigation.

Immediately after the incident, the center’s four technicians and manager John Lake utilized advanced law enforcement technology to crack the case.

The investigation kicked off with a piece of Fenton’s car found at the scene.

“One of the traffic homicide officers at the scene found a part of what he believed was a Lexus,” Lake said. “We started digging into that piece and determined it was from a white Lexus.”

While this didn’t provide much information, it was enough to initiate further inquiry.

A search through vehicle registration records revealed 450 white Lexus cars in Sarasota County. This led the investigation to license plate recognition (LPR) cameras across the city.

“We narrowed it down to 50 white Lexuses that had been registered by LPRs within five hours of the crash,” Lake explained. “An analyst noticed that one vehicle essentially vanished after the incident; it was seen on cameras multiple times prior but none afterwards.”

The analysis showed that the license plate matched Fenton’s address. Detectives visited her home and observed a white Lexus with a smashed windshield in the garage, leading to the vehicle’s impoundment and investigation.

“Let’s say it took us a week to find that car. If we weren’t operating this center, she might have already taken it to a body shop and repaired it,” Lake noted. “Without our concentrated efforts for two days, much could have changed.”

In addition to the Fenton case, the center’s efficacy was proved in solving a road rage incident within 48 hours. A black sedan had shot into another vehicle, leaving the victim only with a color description.

With video footage from a homeowner, analysts identified a blurred image of a Honda Civic, initiating an investigation focused on license plates and travel patterns. The suspect was tracked leaving the city and returning shortly thereafter.

“We dispatched detectives and the suspect eventually confessed, leading to the recovery of the firearm,” Lake said. “It was a quick turnaround that might not have been possible without this technology.”

Last week, the center also supported a high-risk nighttime search warrant, utilizing body cams and drone footage.

“We had live feeds from the SWAT team’s body cams and drone footage, allowing command staff to monitor the operation in real time,” stated Support Services Division Capt. Demetri Konstantopoulos. “This allowed us to make informed decisions if situations changed.”

Chief’s Vision

Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche proposed the operations center as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget, costing $690,581 for the initial phases. The goal is to enhance law enforcement efficiency using existing technology.

The first phase coincided with the acquisition of a $1 million mobile command center.

“The Chief’s vision started this initiative, driving the department to leverage technology for a safer Sarasota,” Konstantopoulos said. “Immediate successes in high-profile cases demonstrate this direction.”

The center is situated on the second floor, featuring four workstations with live camera feeds across the city. The capability extends to monitoring private cameras with consent, enhancing situational awareness during events and at public locations.

“We aim to act in minutes, not hours or days,” Lake remarked. They can monitor officers in real-time, with noise monitors pinpointing gunshots’ locations.

The full build-out will occur in three phases, each costing approximately $300,000. Currently, four technicians staff the center, with plans to expand to six, ensuring rapid response and efficient monitoring.