Springfield police are creating a new intelligence unit to support officers by using video, audio and database information. Officials say it’s the first of its kind in the Northeast.

It’s a room of specially trained analysts in front of a bank of monitors, like what you see on shows like CSI. Though cities like Boston may use similar intelligence systems already, Springfield’s Director of Crime Analysis, William Schwarz, says the staffing will set this one apart.

“If you don’t have analysts in place to read these reports as they’re coming in and look at the map and see the calls for service and adjust resources on the fly, than you’re not really ‘real time,'” Schwarz says.

The new hardware, software and an upgraded radio system will cost the city a million dollars.

Police Commissioner John Barbieri says the unit should be up and running by spring, “before the next summer peak activity surge for the police department.”