Gwinnett County in Georgia has recently garnered the 2025 Georgia County Excellence Award for its cutting-edge Situational Awareness and Crime Response Center (SACRC), an advanced real-time crime tracking initiative that embodies the county’s dedication to public safety. According to a news release from Gwinnett County’s official website, Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson lauded the collaborative effort stating, “This recognition is a testament to the innovation, collaboration and commitment of our public safety professionals who work tirelessly to keep Gwinnett safe.”
The award, a collaboration between the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and Georgia Trend magazine, honors counties for innovative programs that not only meet resident needs but also improve their quality of life, Gwinnett was one of six counties recognized at the prestigious event, which took place at the Savannah Convention Center. The SACRC, inaugurated by the Board of Commissioners back in 2020, has since become a beacon of technological integration in law enforcement, helping first responders by providing them access to real-time data such as live 911 call analysis, enhanced by the inclusion of community-based cameras in 2024, helping to inform them en route to crime scenes or in pursuit of missing individuals.
Executive Director Dave Wills praised the spirit of Georgia’s counties, “The Georgia County Excellence Awards is an annual program that recognizes innovative spirit and ingenuity of Georgia’s counties and their leaders,” in a statement obtained by Gwinnett County’s news release. The SACRC’s advanced infrastructure includes flock cameras and license plate readers, tools vital for enhancing public safety. In 2024 alone, the SACRC’s reach and efficacy were palpable—it located nearly 80 stolen vehicles, was instrumental in 250 arrests, and succeeded in locating 12 missing persons, thereby playing an instrumental role in amplifying Gwinnett’s Safe Communities program…