FCW.COM article discusses a DHS program to hire and place intelligence analysts in local and state emerging fusion centers. DHS views this as a partnership to facilitate the flow of all hazard information between local, state and federal agencies. Hopefully DHS and other intelligence gathering branches of the federal government are beginning to realize that local agencies are more than just consumers of intelligence, but also producers of actionable and accurate information. Intelligence for homeland security is not solely a top-down federally driven process, but must also move bottom-up as well as laterally. Local public safety agencies are responsible for the protection of their citizens and will be responsible to craft the response to a terrorist attack. Additionally, they can greatly enhance the intelligence process with the input of local knowledge.
The placement of these DHS analysts in fusion centers has commenced in Los Angeles, New York City and at another unidentified state fusion centers. The plan calls for placing three analysts in each state fusion center and additional analysts in local fusion centers for a two or three year period. The DHS is anticipating that these DHS analysts will improve information-gathering requirements, enhance the analysis, and increase intelligence sharing and dissemination.
Many local jurisdictions are collocating or combining their fusion center with their Terrorism Early Warning (TEW) groups – another DHS sponsored intelligence development and information sharing concept. TEWs facilitate intelligence, information sharing and coordination, increasing preparedness and enabling more effective responses across responder disciplines ? law enforcement, fire, emergency management and health, at all levels of government ? local, state, and federal. The TEW is a jurisdiction-wide group with the core mission to serve as the focal point for analyzing the strategic and operational information needed to respond to terrorism and protect critical infrastructure. In carrying out this mission, the TEW is responsible for information sharing, intelligence fusion, detailed response planning, and operational net assessment in support of incident command. The precepts of TEWs are that law enforcement, fire and health all have input into intelligence assessments and that they are equal partners in the intelligence process, particularly when disseminating information or intelligence. Additionally, the TEWs look at intelligence from a predictive or preventive view as opposed to many of the fusion centers that are staffed with predominately law enforcement officers that have previously been assigned to intelligence centers gathering information on gangs, organized crime or drug activities. At these centers they viewed intelligence and built case files with the intent of gaining an arrest warrant, apprehension/arrest and successful prosecution in a court of law.
Jack Tomarchio, principal deputy assistant secretary at DHS?s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, said, ?We realize this is an ambitious program, and we realize it doesn?t happen overnight.? This program is a positive start as, embedding DHS analysis into local and state all source fusion centers surely will facilitate the two-way flow of information and intelligence.
