SFPD Gets New High-Tech Investigations Headquarters

SFPD is getting a new high tech Realtime Investigations Center (RTIC) in downtown SF thanks to $9.4 million in donations. It doubles down on a strategy that's already showing results: auto theft is down 41%, citywide crime down 30%, and RTIC officers helped bust 32 suspects just last week.

The Facts

San Francisco’s Real Time Investigations Center (RTIC) is expanding into a new, modernized headquarters at 315 Montgomery Street, thanks to $9.4 million in donations from Ripple, the San Francisco Police Community Foundation, and Crankstart. The new space provides a state-of-the-art facility for the SFPD’s growing RTIC unit, including 12 drones, citywide surveillance tools, license plate readers, video walls, and real-time analytics software.

The Context

The first version of the RTIC, which is currently located in a windowless basement room in the Hall of Justice, has already made a measurable impact. Since launching in March 2024 following the passage of Proposition E, it has supported more than 500 arrests, helped avoid dangerous vehicle pursuits, and contributed to a 41% drop in auto thefts, according to a press release from the Mayor's office.

Proposition E (March 2024), which GrowSF supported, gave SFPD the authority to modernize its toolkit—legalizing broader use of drones, automated license plate readers, and real-time video analysis, while ensuring the proper oversight is given to their use. This resulted in the creation of the Realtime Investigations Center (RTIC), which was housed in a windowless basement room at the Hall of Justice.

The GrowSF Take

We're thrilled to see that voting yes on Prop E is already paying off. Smart, tech-enabled policing is delivering fewer car thefts, lower crime, and real-time response to keep neighborhoods safe. The new RTIC is a model for how cities can fight crime effectively while respecting civil liberties. Let’s double down on what works—and make sure the future of policing is efficient, transparent, and rooted in results.