The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with Apple to explore innovative technologies, including the integration of Apple CarPlay into police vehicles.

As part of this collaboration, the department is piloting Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset for real-time crime monitoring.

This initiative aims to decrease the reliance on costly, centralized crime centers that typically require multiple screens for effective data visualization.

However, the Vision Pro's price tag of $3,499 may present budgetary challenges for many police departments despite its advanced capabilities.

In response to potential field use, Apple is reportedly developing a lighter version of the Vision Pro headset.

According to analyst firm IDC, Apple shipped approximately 200,000 Vision Pros in 2024, generating around $700 million in revenue.

The Vision Pro headset will empower officers to access surveillance feeds, law enforcement databases, and manage crime responses remotely.

Fontneau demonstrated the headset's capabilities by interacting with a virtual version of the department's Real-Time Operations Center.

In a related effort, the Los Angeles Police Foundation has allocated $20,000 to acquire five Vision Pro headsets to enhance their surveillance capabilities.

Dave Fontneau, CIO of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, highlighted that the Vision Pro could eventually enable officers to gather local crime data through augmented reality.

The LAPD envisions utilizing augmented reality to overlay critical information on live feeds, significantly improving situational awareness for officers.

While virtual reality has historically been used primarily for police training, there is now a push to incorporate it into operational surveillance.