Virginia State Police (see logo) are taking public education and information sharing to the homes of residents via the new state police initiative — the Virginia Critical Information Shared System, or VCISS. Lt. Steve Lambert, who manages the site, stated: “What we’re trying to do, why the public needs to go to this site, is that they are the eyes and ears that give us the leads. The public needs to know how to protect themselves from terrorist tactics?and they have to get involved in helping law enforcement arrest these folks?and break up the conspiracies and terror plots that are ongoing every day.”

The 9/11 attacks , having targeted Virginia’s Pentagon, brought about a need to share intelligence across the state, and authorities felt that adding the public would help advance intelligence sharing. The six level system permits access based on individual or agency security clearance. Level one is assigned to the governor?s office with access to highly intelligent information and trickles down to level six, which is for the public. In between are law enforcement, state agencies, and “community” groups such as public utilities and corporations. All levels beyond the public (level six) require a User ID and password.