Vacaville PD’s Blueprint for Smarter Policing: Inside the City’s Information-Centered Approach to Public Safety

‍‍‍From Frustration to Innovation

In 2018, then–Lieutenant Chris Polen stood at a homicide scene in Vacaville, California, frustrated. Despite the department’s best efforts, the tools available made solving that case—and others like it—slow and difficult. It was the kind of moment that sticks with you, especially when your community expects to feel safe and supported.

Now, in 2025, Chief Chris Polen is leading Vacaville into a new era of proactive public safety. The department has launched its first day of patrol Drone as First Responder (DFR) flights and just recently completed construction on a cutting-edge Real-Time Information Center. This center is not just about fighting crime—it’s about improving quality of life.

Building the Vision

The spark for change began when Chief Polen and his team looked to Elk Grove, a neighboring city that had already pioneered a Real Time Information Center (RTIC). But Vacaville took a slightly different path, guided by one critical principle: information supports more than just law enforcement—it serves the whole community.

That’s why Vacaville calls it an “Information Center.” The name reflects a commitment to broader municipal collaboration, from code enforcement to emergency operations to public works.

“We are a quality-of-life policing city, not necessarily a crime city,” said Chief Polen. “This center had to reflect that mission.”

The Right People, the Right Structure

From the beginning, Chief Polen knew the center needed to be led by a professional civilian staff member, not a sworn officer who might rotate out in a year or two. Enter Nikki—a detail-oriented, driven leader who has become the operational anchor of the project.

“Longevity is key. If you don’t have someone like Nikki driving the bus, it’s not going to be successful,” said Chief Polen.

Vacaville structured the Information Center under the Office of the Chief, bypassing layers of bureaucracy and allowing direct alignment with city-wide safety and communication goals. That tight linkage has already paid dividends.

Smart Spending, Real Results

Thanks to a $4.4 million BSCC grant focused on organized retail theft, Vacaville has been able to fund the center and the DFR program. But as Chief Polen noted, spending grant money wisely is an art—and a responsibility.

“Transparency means a lot to the state. We’ve documented every construction invoice, software license, and equipment purchase,” he shared.

And while $4.4 million sounds like a lot, Chief Polen is already thinking about sustainability. The city is actively evaluating how to measure return on investment and communicate those results to council members, city leadership, and residents alike.

A Model for Regional Collaboration

Vacaville’s RTIC was built with scalability in mind. With thoughtful design—balancing aesthetics, functionality, and space to grow—the center is already drawing attention from other local governments. And Chief Polen has bigger ambitions.

“If we can get other agencies to regionalize with us, that would be a dream come true,” he said.

In a county where many cities already share CAD systems and Flock Safety cameras, there’s a strong foundation for intelligence-sharing and joint operations. Chief Polen’s hope is that Vacaville can serve as both an example and a hub.

The Flock Safety Difference

Flock Safety’s relationship with Vacaville didn’t start with the build of the RTIC. It’s been a relationship honed over years, and one that has changed how Vacaville PD approaches their cases by receiving informed leads rather than chasing down information. That success sparked more investment—and deeper collaboration.

Today, Flock Aerodome drones, fixed LPRs, and multi-agency intelligence tools are helping Vacaville and communities like it evolve public safety into something smarter, faster, and more community-focused.

“Flock has been the driving force behind it,” said Chief Polen. “It’s part of the equipment we give officers to make better, safer decisions.”

Final Word

Vacaville isn’t just building a RTIC—they’re building a framework for 21st-century public safety. With intentional leadership, community buy-in, and the right technology partners, they’re demonstrating how even mid-sized cities can lead with innovation.

This isn’t about more enforcement. It’s about more awareness, more transparency, and more support for the professionals and residents who make up a community.

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Watch the full episode on YouTube: Beyond Crime: How Vacaville PD’s New RTIC Is Uniting a City Around Public Safety