Critical Response Group: Collaborative Response Graphics (Incident Response Mapping Technology)

To enhance critical incident preparedness and management efforts of Virginia law enforcement agencies, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation (VACP) has partnered with Critical Response Group, providers of Collaborative Response Graphics® (CRGs®).

CRGs® were born from lessons learned by the US Special Operations community overseas. Like domestic first responders, US Special Operators face the challenge of communicating about unfamiliar locations while under stress. To solve this problem, they developed a visual communication tool, called a Gridded Reference Graphic, that combines a gridded overlay with high-resolution overhead imagery so that operators can communicate about unfamiliar locations off a single sheet of paper.

Critical Response Group adapted this communication technique to solve similar problems encountered during domestic crisis response. When an emergency occurs at a facility, hundreds of public safety professionals may respond, the majority of which will have little familiarity with the site. Almost two decades of After-Action Reports in the post-Columbine era point out that unfamiliarity with locations and an inability to communicate locations inhibited response times, closing on active assailants and evacuating casualties. CRGs® are designed to be simple maps - useable under stress - by anyone involved in an incident, from security personnel and facility administrators to dispatchers, responding officers and incident command, to communicate locations both outside and inside a facility!

CRGs® are currently in place in hundreds of facilities across the country, ranging from elementary schools and colleges to hospitals, corporate campuses, government buildings, airports and conference centers.

We encourage Virginia law enforcement to learn more and help us bring about this life-saving technology to Virginia. Below are some articles and videos that detail more about how the CRG mapping technology works.

COMPANY BROCHURE: Collaborative Response Graphics Brochure (PDF)

SLIDES: Understanding & Communicating with Collaborative Response Graphics® (CRGs®) (PDF)

ARTICLE: "Planning in Pictures — The future of critical incident planning and response"
by Keith Germain, COO, Critical Response Group, Inc.

WHITE PAPER: "The development and use of Collaborative Response Graphics™(CRG™) in public safety planning and emergency response operations" (PDF)
By Michael Bruno, Chief of Police, (Ret.)

VIDEO: CRG Corporate Profile

VIDEO: Overview of BAE Systems’ Geospatial eXploitation Products

VIDEO: The GXP Tactical Solution

VIDEO: GXP Solutions for Land Based Missions and Crisis Management

DIGITAL MAPPING PROGRAM for VIRGINIA K-12 SCHOOLS

Governor Youngkin has announced that the state will provide funding to every K-12 school in Virginia to provide "digital mapping" of their facilities to first responders.  Effective April 26, House Bill 741 requires school boards to create detailed and accurate floor plans for each of their public school buildings for use during emergencies.

The Department of Criminal Justice Services has created a portal for schools to apply for funding to cover the purchase of "Collaborative Response Graphics." Funding will be approved on a rolling basis and is available now through this link:

>> DIGITAL MAPPING GRANT PROGRAM for VIRGINIA K-12 SCHOOLS

If anyone has questions or would like to receive a capabilities briefing pleas have them reach out to Josh at jgoldsmith@crgplans.com or info@crgplans.com