Crypto Billionaire Offers $9.4 Million to Modernize S.F. Police Tech Hub
San Francisco officials have been asked to approve a $9.4 million gift from crypto billionaire Chris Larsen to create a new technology hub for the city’s police force. The donation aims to radically modernize the police department’s technical operations by relocating and expanding its Real-Time Investigations Center (RTIC).
The RTIC, which oversees the police department’s work with drones, surveillance cameras, and automated license plate readers, is currently housed in a crumbling Hall of Justice building constructed in 1958. The outdated infrastructure has caused issues such as power and internet outages, and limited cell phone and emergency radio transmission capabilities due to its windowless location in a concrete structure.
The proposed gift would relocate the RTIC to an office at 315 Montgomery St. in the Financial District. Ripple, a company co-founded by Larsen, has agreed to sublet the space to the Police Department for free. The $9.4 million donation is comprised of $2.15 million in funds linked to Larsen and $7.25 million from the San Francisco Police Community Foundation, a charitable organization established by Larsen last year.
“I think we can clearly see what a force-multiplier this is,” Larsen said in a Monday interview, crediting recent tech advancements with helping a short-staffed police force drive down crime rates and keep officers safe. The Police Department has reported that the RTIC assisted in over 500 arrests in 2024 and contributed to a 40% drop in auto thefts over a one-year period.
The funding would be used to expand the RTIC’s capabilities, including the purchase of a dozen additional drones and related software, a new video wall, and the installation of fiber internet services. Larsen has previously supported police and public safety initiatives in San Francisco, including a citywide network of surveillance cameras and a $1 million donation to support officer wellness.
While many San Franciscans have welcomed the police department’s technological advancements as a response to persistent property crimes, privacy advocates remain concerned about potential abuses of the new surveillance tools. The Police Commission is set to discuss the funding proposal at their weekly meeting, with final approval required from the Board of Supervisors.
“With this new facility, the SFPD will have the tools and technology it needs to take this work to the next level,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie in a statement, thanking Larsen for his continued dedication to police officers and public safety in San Francisco.
