Choose one police architecture before downloading mods
Your choice controls the police framework, MDT, dispatch, voice systems, dependencies, and troubleshooting instructions used throughout the guide.
The modern path uses Policing Redefined. Do not leave Stop The Ped, Ultimate Backup, or CompuLite active beside it. Those plugins overlap in stops, arrests, backup, records, menus, and entity handling.
Quick recommendation
New to GTA modding?
Start with the Free Modern Build. It teaches the same safe installation method and modern architecture without requiring paid access. Move to paid voice and Nexus features only after the free foundation is stable.
Side-by-side comparison
| Question | Free Modern Build | Paid Maximum-Realism Build | Legacy Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | First-time installers and no-cost builds | Natural voice, premium Nexus workflow, maximum immersion | Existing STP users who do not want to migrate |
| Police framework | Policing Redefined | Policing Redefined | Stop The Ped + Ultimate Backup |
| MDT | NexusMDT Lite or one compatible free records option | NexusMDT FULL | CompuLite |
| Dispatch | AIDispatch or a supported free option | Nexus Dispatch | GrammarPolice or menu-based dispatch |
| Pedestrian voice | NPCI phrase recognition | NPCAI open-ended AI conversation | NPCI STP edition or menu interaction |
| Cost | Core route can be completed without paid memberships | Requires creator purchases or memberships | Mostly free, depending on optional additions |
| Complexity | Moderate | Highest | Moderate, but older architecture |
| Sentinel recommendation | Best starting point | Best final realism target | Keep separate; do not mix with modern stack |
Free Modern Build
What you get
Modern traffic stops, backup, records, voice dispatch, phrase-based pedestrian voice, EUP, lighting, and a lore-friendly expansion path.
Main components
Policing Redefined, Damage Tracker Framework, NexusMDT Lite, AIDispatch, NPCI PR edition, EUP, and Better Radiance.
Choose this route when you:
- Are installing LSPDFR for the first time
- Want to learn the architecture before buying premium plugins
- Are comfortable using defined phrases for pedestrian voice control
- Want the easiest supported path to troubleshoot
Paid Maximum-Realism Build
What you get
A connected MDT and dispatch workflow with natural AI conversations, fewer rigid phrases, and more immersive roleplay.
Main components
Policing Redefined, Damage Tracker Framework, NexusMDT FULL, Nexus Dispatch, NPCAI 3.1, and optional AxonSignal.
Choose this route when you:
- Already have a stable LSPDFR and Policing Redefined foundation
- Want open-ended NPC conversation instead of predefined phrases
- Want Nexus entitlement features and connected dispatch
- Accept API setup, microphone configuration, and higher troubleshooting complexity
Start the Paid Maximum-Realism Build →
Legacy Alternative
The legacy pages remain for users who intentionally run Stop The Ped, Ultimate Backup, and CompuLite. They are not a cheaper version of the modern path; they are a different architecture.
Use the legacy route only when:
- Your current build already depends on STP/UB/CompuLite.
- You do not want to rebuild around Policing Redefined.
- A required plugin explicitly supports the legacy ecosystem but not PR.
What “paid” means
Project Sentinel never redistributes protected files. Paid guides provide installation order, configuration, test gates, and troubleshooting, then direct the reader to the creator's official purchase or entitlement source. Prices, access terms, and delivered versions can change.
Rules shared by every path
- Confirm GTA V Legacy
Enhanced and Legacy use different binaries and compatibility states. Do not assume a guide for one applies to the other.
- Version-match the core
GTA, LSPDFR, RPH, ScriptHookV, GameConfig, and major plugins must support the same title update.
- Keep only one owner for each job
One police framework, one main records workflow, one dispatch workflow, and non-conflicting push-to-talk keys.
- Test before expanding
Pass the stage-specific in-game test before adding uniforms, vehicles, callouts, graphics, or sirens.
Unsure? Use the Free Modern Build first. It is the safest learning path and can later be upgraded.
Start free →