Fighting Terrorism by Sharing Data
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced changes to the way it works with local law enforcement authorities to fight terrorism.
The changes, prompted by widespread complaints from local officials, will include improved threat intelligence; improved coordination between police and federal officials who collect and analyze terror information; and increasing the pace of security clearances for local police.
The moves are based on months of conversations between Homeland Security officials and local police chiefs.
The DHS plans to hire a firm from the private sector to speed up the security-clearance process for police officers who work with the DHS. In addition, police liaison officers will be added to a new federal operation center, while the DHS will send intelligence officials to state and local operation centers.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Wall Street Journal (10/16/06) P. A6; Block, Robert.