Technology Advances Transform Amarillo Policing

By Zackary Mossbrooks, zmossbro@ttu.edu

The Amarillo Regional Crime Center opened earlier this year and has been credited with helping officers resolve hundreds of incidents faster and with better information. Its features include live-streaming body cameras, real-time crime monitoring, and an expanded drone program that officials say improves safety for both police and the public.

Lt. Shane Chadwick, who helps oversee daily operations at the center, said the biggest advantage is how quickly officers can get support during tense situations.

“When you’ve got eyes in the room before someone even arrives, it completely changes how we can prepare,” Chadwick said. “We can watch it happen as it unfolds.”

The ARCC has already played a role in more than 700 cases since its launch. Police can now activate body cameras manually or automatically when they draw a taser or firearm, which is then streamed in real time to the center’s analysts and supervisors.

In addition to camera feeds, officers in the field are supported by analysts who pull information from license plate readers, records, and state databases. That assistance has become especially useful in high-risk calls, such as domestic disputes or armed robberies.

Haley Hernandez works as a crime analyst at the Amarillo Regional Crime Center, helping officers track suspects, pull background data, and monitor communications during active cases.

“We’re acting as a second set of eyes,” Hernandez said. “If someone’s heading into a situation and we already know who’s involved, if weapons were flagged, or if there’s a warrant, we can tell them that in seconds.”

Another major upgrade is the department’s investment in virtual and augmented reality training. Officers now complete regular training scenarios that simulate tense encounters, including active shooter situations and de-escalation tactics, in a controlled digital environment. The new training system allows for more frequent refreshers without having to shut down a range or pull officers off patrol for extended periods.

Officers complete these simulations in a dedicated training space equipped with headsets and motion-sensor gear. The exercises range from routine traffic stops to life-threatening hostage scenarios, and each session ends with a debrief. Chadwick said the goal isn’t to get everything right the first time. It’s to learn from the stress and improve decision-making under pressure.

The department also expanded its drone fleet as part of what it calls a “first responder” model. Drones are now deployed in certain emergencies ahead of officers, offering aerial views of a scene before anyone sets foot on it. That program has sparked some concern among residents about surveillance and privacy, especially in residential neighborhoods.

Amarillo police say they follow state law, including limits on how and where drones can be used. Texas House Bill 1631 prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft to capture images over private property without a warrant or emergency justification.

The Amarillo Police Department plans to review ARCC performance metrics later this year and share them with the city council. For now, officers and analysts say they’re focused on refining how the tools are used and making sure they stay one step ahead.