Detective Dave Gibson of the Tempe Police Department sat down with the Shots Fired Podcast, hosted by Mark Reddich and Kyle Schelberg, to talk through how his agency uses The RATT (Rapid All-Terrain Tower) to manage public safety at large-scale events. The conversation covers real deployments, mass casualty prevention, and why mobile aerial surveillance has become a core part of Tempe PD’s event security strategy. The episode was also featured in a Police1 breakdown of the podcast.
Tempe PD has deployed The RATT at dozens of events. Read the full deployment stories: 2025 WM Phoenix Open and ASU vs. BYU Football Game.
How The RATT Supports Special Event Surveillance
Tempe PD handles more than 30 large-scale events a year, from marathons to music festivals. With thousands of attendees at each one, crowd control and emergency response require more than patrol officers on foot. The RATT mounts to a standard vehicle hitch and elevates a high-powered PTZ camera to deliver aerial surveillance in real time.
Unlike fixed rooftop cameras, The RATT gives officers three things fixed infrastructure cannot: mobility to move with the crowd and relay updated visuals back to a central command post; deployment speed of under 10 minutes by a single officer with the mast extended to 30 feet; and optical clarity capable of capturing a license plate two blocks away in low-light conditions.
The system feeds directly to command centers and can be accessed by officers in the field. That shared visibility allows for faster, better-informed decisions about where to deploy additional officers and when to redirect resources in response to a developing situation.
Mobile Surveillance in Action: Preventing Mass Casualties
Tempe PD’s use of The RATT goes beyond basic crowd monitoring. As Gibson discussed on the podcast, the system plays a direct role in preventing mass casualty events by giving law enforcement real-time, mobile visibility during high-risk scenarios.
One example he walked through was Tempe PD’s support role at the 2025 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Scottsdale PD had fixed surveillance cameras positioned throughout the venue. The RATT served as a mobile unit that could be deployed anywhere on the perimeter where additional visibility was needed, allowing command staff to detect crowd flow issues, identify potential threats, and redirect officers before problems escalated.
“It’s just a force multiplier,” Gibson said. “We can post up at any point along the perimeter and feed live situational awareness back to command.”
That capability matters in today’s environment, where active threats require rapid, flexible response. By integrating aerial surveillance with behavioral detection and field intel, Tempe PD is building a proactive safety posture rather than a reactive one.
A Versatile Tool for Threat Mitigation and Crowd Safety
Tempe PD’s Threat Mitigation Unit integrates The RATT into a broader strategy that includes covert officers, behavioral detection, and collaboration with local and federal intelligence agencies. The RATT’s real-time data complements pre-event social media monitoring and in-field observations, helping the department get ahead of situations before they develop.
Gibson noted that The RATT isn’t limited to public events. It has been used during SWAT operations, barricaded suspect incidents, and protests. The system gives his team real-time visibility and the ability to adapt quickly regardless of the scenario.
It also supports fire and EMS coordination. When a medical emergency occurs in a dense crowd, operators can zoom in, pinpoint the location using a grid system, and direct medics to the exact spot. That capability saves time when time is the variable that matters most.
Cost-Effective Surveillance for Agencies of Any Size
Cost came up as a major topic in the episode. Many advanced surveillance systems carry six-figure price tags. The RATT delivers comparable capability at a fraction of that cost, making it accessible for smaller departments and practical for multi-unit deployments at large venues.
It mounts on a vehicle hitch, tripod, or wall, and runs off vehicle power with no generator required. That combination of affordability, mounting flexibility, and durability is what makes it practical for agencies with real budget constraints.
“If there’s an issue,” Gibson said, “I can call Critical Tech Solutions directly. No phone trees, no waiting. They’re responsive, and they get it.”
See Tempe PD’s Deployments in Action
The podcast covers the strategy. The customer stories show it in the field. Read how Tempe PD used The RATT at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open supporting Scottsdale PD in front of 500,000+ attendees, and how they deployed it for crowd monitoring at the ASU vs. BYU football game at Mountain America Stadium.
Ready to Put The RATT to Work for Your Agency?
Whether you’re managing a marathon, a stadium event, or a high-risk operation, The RATT gives your team elevated visibility from the moment it deploys.
