SAN FRANCISCO — Chris Larsen, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world and advocate for public safety, is contributing $9.4 million to facilitate the relocation and expansion of the San Francisco Police Department’s Real-Time Investigations Center, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
This generous donation from Larsen, who co-founded Ripple, aims to transfer the RTIC from the outdated Hall of Justice to a state-of-the-art facility in the Financial District. Thanks to an unused $2.3 million lease by Ripple, the police department will occupy the new premises rent-free until December 2026.
Additionally, $7.25 million will be provided by the San Francisco Police Community Foundation, an organization Larsen established last year to enhance law enforcement’s technology, equipment, and wellness initiatives.
The Police Commission is scheduled to assess the proposal at an upcoming meeting, with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors having the final say if it advances. Larsen emphasized that the donation is intended to equip the overwhelmed police force with technology to boost safety and operational efficiency.
Highlighting the impact, Larsen remarked, “We can clearly see the significant advantage this provides,” referencing the city’s historically low crime rates over the past year. “Their toolkit is quite limited, and enhancing it will certainly make a difference.”
Evan Sernoffsky, an SFPD spokesperson, noted that the RTIC has already been instrumental, contributing to over 500 arrests in 2024 and significantly reducing auto thefts by 40% within a year.
“Our current Real Time Investigations Center was pieced together with whatever resources we had available,” Sernoffsky explained. “Its effectiveness, even with limited tools, has been surprising.”
Presently, the RTIC operates from a deteriorating 1958 building plagued by issues like power and internet outages, ceiling leaks, and poor signal transmission due to thick concrete walls. During a recent media briefing, journalists were requested not to charge their devices to prevent system overloads.
The proposed new site will offer a more reliable foundation for the RTIC, alongside improvements like fiber internet, a new video wall, additional drones, and advanced surveillance and analytics software.
This expansion follows the 2023 approval of Proposition E, which relaxed restrictions on police surveillance tools, granting the department greater use of drones, automated license plate readers (ALPRs), and mobile security towers.
Larsen’s commitment to public safety is further demonstrated by his previous projects, including funding a private camera network and a $1 million contribution for officer wellness.