Operation Shield is the programmatic name for Atlanta's city-wide camera and communication network aimed at solving and deterring crime. This strategic grid includes an ever increasing number of cameras, license plate readers, communication devices and gun-shot sensors. With devices numbering well into the thousands, the program continues to expand by leveraging public funds when available, and by supplementing them with private sponsorships. The Loudermilk Video Integration Center or 'VIC' is the hub from which Operation Shield is powered, and it is staffed around the clock by a team of police and civilian camera technology experts. The program is managed through a partnership between the Atlanta Police Foundation and the Atlanta Police Department, and is supported by key service providers.