SEATTLE — Seattle police now have access to a much larger surveillance camera network than previously reported, according to a new annual review from Seattle’s Office of Inspector General that also raises concerns about privacy, oversight, and privately owned cameras.
More than 1,300 cameras are now either connected to or registered with the Seattle Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center.
Police officials said 427 cameras can provide live video to the Real Time Crime Center. That includes 308 SPD cameras, 96 Seattle Department of Transportation cameras, and 23 privately owned cameras.
Another 893 privately owned cameras are registered with the crime center. Registration does not give police a live feed. Instead, analysts can see where those cameras are located and contact their owners to request footage when responding to a 911 call or during an investigation.
Residents and business owners can register private cameras or provide access to live feeds through the Connect Seattle program.
The review looked at SPD’s use of closed-circuit television cameras, automated license plate readers, and Real Time Crime Center software during 2025. Under Seattle Municipal Code, OIG reviews issues including how the technology is used, data sharing and management, risks to civil liberties, community concerns, and costs.
According to the OIG report, the purpose of SPD’s CCTV system is to help collect evidence connected to serious or violent criminal activity.
OIG reviewed CCTV evidence saved by Real Time Crime Center analysts in 2025 and found 98% was connected to high-priority calls or serious or violent crime. Analysts saved 1,659 CCTV clips as evidence during the year, according to the report.
The report also found no indication that Real Time Crime Center analysts improperly shared surveillance data with outside entities during 2025. OIG said access to the camera platform also appeared to be limited to personnel with an operational need.
However, investigators identified shortcomings in the safeguards surrounding the system.
SPD policy prohibits Real Time Crime Center analysts from conducting proactive surveillance without a corresponding 911 call or active case number. But OIG found the Axon Fusus software does not currently require analysts to enter a case number or justification before viewing CCTV cameras.
OIG recommended requiring analysts to provide a case number each time they view CCTV footage. SPD agreed with the recommendation and said it had already requested the feature from Axon.
SPD’s original CCTV pilot installed cameras at 62 locations across three areas: Downtown, the Chinatown-International District and Aurora. According to OIG, it remains unclear whether privately owned cameras should be restricted to those same pilot areas or can be integrated citywide.
OIG also recommended that SPD and city leaders develop policies spelling out where private cameras can be used, how they should be monitored, how problems should be addressed, and how long footage should be retained.
SPD agreed with the recommendation. According to its response included in the report, the department plans to propose policies addressing privately integrated cameras by March 15, 2027.
The debate also comes as cameras installed in Seattle’s Stadium District remain turned off following the World Cup.
OIG reported that SPD installed cameras at 21 Stadium District locations in 2026 and operated them while Seattle hosted FIFA World Cup matches.
The report notes continuing community concerns surrounding CCTV and the Real Time Crime Center. During discussions over the pilot and its expansion, community members and civil rights advocates raised concerns about privacy, civil liberties, federal overreach, and impacts on protected communities.
The OIG report does not determine whether Seattle’s surveillance technology is effective at reducing crime.
A separate evaluation by OIG and the University of Pennsylvania Crime and Justice Policy Lab is examining the effectiveness of the Technology Assisted Public Safety pilot program. OIG says that evaluation is expected at the end of 2027.
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