The City of Mount Vernon has unveiled its new AWARE Room, a real-time public safety awareness and coordination center developed with Motorola Solutions. The $1.8 million room was funded by the state. It is described as providing police command staff with a centralized, real-time view of public safety situations, such as ongoing crimes or 911 emergencies, enabling faster and more informed responses. The room pulls in for display video from the city’s fixed and mobile security cameras and license plate readers, as well as security cameras at community businesses who have signed on to enhance collaboration in crime prevention. Artificial Intelligence-enabled analytics help detect unusual activity and automatically alert AWARE Room staff to events that may require attention.
“Public safety is more than policing, it’s about prevention, presence, and partnership,” Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said. “Through data-driven strategies and cutting-edge technology like the AWARE Room, we’re redefining what it means to serve and protect. We are not just responding to crime; we are proactively building a safer, smarter Mount Vernon.”
Acting Police Commissioner David Gibson called the room “a game-changer for the Mount Vernon Police Department. It enhances our ability to monitor, assess, and respond to incidents as they unfold. This real-time intelligence helps us protect our officers and our residents more effectively and builds the kind of responsiveness and trust our community deserves.”
Mount Vernon positions the AWARE Room as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize public safety and reduce crime in Mount Vernon. The city says there has been a nearly 10% reduction in violent crime over the past year; expanded the use of police body cameras, and strengthened community partnerships to improve trust and transparency.
