Joint Terrorism Case Study

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is one, centralized agency, securing the homeland involves the cooperation and collaboration of many, different agencies and organizations ranging from local law enforcement to national agencies such as the NSA, CIA, and FBI. Each of these agencies contributes to the development of homeland security intelligence. By carefully analyzing and commenting on the objectives, tasks, strengths, weaknesses, and roles of each agency, a larger picture emerges regarding the capabilities and limitation of intelligence in supporting homeland security efforts.

In addition, the recent sniper in 2002 “ John Allen Muhammed killing ten people. “Since 9/11, federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies have worked collaboratively to detect and prevent terrorism-related and other types of criminal activity. FBI-sponsored Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) and fusion centers represent a change in culture and a willingness to share information among agencies and across all levels of government”(ise.gov). The 2002 Washington, D.C. sniper “John Allen Muhammed” is excellent of multi-jurisdictional sharing information to get a killer out of the street. It all started on October 2, with several deadly shootings over a period of hours in Montgomery County, Maryland, to North of Washington, D.C. As the number of fatal shootings multiplied, the task force assigned to the case gets various state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies involved. Law enforcement agencies from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia were all involved provided assistance in the captured of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo at an interstate area in Western Maryland. A toll-free tip line was created by one of the agencies for the

The Department of Homeland Security plays in a very important part in terrorism. DHS protect the United States from foreign and domestic threats to the United States. One of the missions is to find and destroy any weapon of mass destruction. Cyberspace is a threat to the United States in the technology field. DHS have to stop threats, hazards and disasters in its tracks at large public gatherings.

The creation of the TTIC will permit law enforcement agencies along the border area with Mexico identify patterns that could reveal large, organized criminal organizations and operations. The TTIC is necessary because some, but not all, agencies furnish information to the existing Joint Operations Intelligence Centers (JOICs) due to way the JOICs are structured. Thus, the TTIC will provide law enforcement agencies, the Texas legislature, and the public, a more complete picture of criminal activity in the border region.

DHS has supported this idea of intelligence centers or information analysis centers by having a “renewed commitment to creating a robust, nationwide network of fusion centers to share and analyze data on citizens and others.”1 As of 2009 DHS contributes 254 million in funding to sate and local

Emphasis on teamwork is a very important element in organizational behavior in the criminal justice or security agency. Many criminal organization are starting to work together to goal of making a huge profit in illegal activity, which is making it difficult for law enforcement to infiltrate and investigate a criminal organization because most of the criminal organization have knowledge of law enforcement personnel around their local area. Law enforcement agencies have teamed up and used other undercover officer from different local, state, and federal agencies to infiltrate and investigate illegal activity by criminal organizations. The United States may also team with agencies on an international level to help combat international criminal organization, in an effort to stop terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, and etc.

One key act was the Patriot Act that gave national security investigators provisions to track leads and dismantle plots before they occur. The Patriot act relaxed restrictions of information sharing between enforcement and intelligence officers, roving wiretaps, subpoena power for e-mail records, and other provisions set forth by this Act. The improved cooperation between the federal, state, and local authorities forming Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF), where communication is the key from the lowest level to the highest level to get suspects off the street. Terrorist travel has been really watched with the security at the airport or even on the plane has been upgraded with more air marshals and the multiple security checks at the

The devastating events of 9/11 provided a forewarning to our country concerning the dangers of terrorism. However, it has created a particularly greater impact on the duties and standards expected of law enforcement agencies on all levels (local, state, and national). Law enforcement has begun implementing new tactics in an effort to prevent future terrorist attacks from threatening our national security. One aspect of policing in which terrorism has brought about is the process of information sharing between all levels of law enforcement. Our nation has also witnessed a change from traditional policing to that of a militarized one. Furthermore, after the incidents of September 11th, the

The formation of fusion centers is a step in the right direction to countering terrorist threats. By working efficiently and appropriately, information leading to arrests can be shared across county lines, state lines, and all around the world in a timely manner. Fusion centers can make law enforcement agencies more competent and effective in stopping crimes (to include terrorist attacks) before they take place. As long as the centers follow the laws they are governed by, they will remain ethical and can be a helpful addition in protecting the United States. Fusion centers in the United States perform a valuable role in countering terrorist threats, their positive influence far

As one of the most efficient States in fighting terrorism, Florida has avoided the Department of Homeland Security all together. Instead, Florida has an Office of Domestic Security and an Office of Statewide Intelligence in order to stop terrorist, respond, and recover from terrorist attacks (2). Aside from these organizations, Florida has more than a dozen other organizations/centers including the Research and Analysis Unit (RAU) Financial Crimes and Analysis Center (FCAC), and Florida Investigative Support Center (FISC) ("Florida Department of…” 1). What Florida has done well that the nation has not done well as a whole is communication. By splitting Florida into seven regions, communication between the regions has been effective and can be compiled easily. Each quarter, the information is compiled and then sent back to the agents in order to analyze crime and determine where distribution of resources will go (1).

The purpose of this paper is to define and give as much detail information about Homeland Security in the United States and law enforcement and how they are integrated. I hope after reading this paper you will be well informed on the duties and responsibilities of these agencies. People have always lived in fear but with the help of these agencies we will no longer have to live in fear. I will try to give as much detail information as possible to help with any problems or situation that might come up. Homeland Security in the United States and law enforcement have extensive research skills and knowledge in serving and protecting citizens and other important groups and agencies. Homeland

In the State of New York, fusion center is a perfect example of information technology optimizing their performance in reducing crime within their police departments. The New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Center serves as an information hub for law enforcement. According to (Johnson, 2008), the mass of intelligence data in the central location has proved to be a key factor in identifying individuals and organizations that are facilitating or carrying out terrorist activity in New York City.

Intelligence collection and apprehension of criminals have occurred for many years; however, with the exception of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, these actions were performed by different organizations. Nonetheless, roles and responsibilities have changed since the attacks on September 11, 2001. Intelligence-led policing and the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing program were incorporated, and fusion centers were established to help gather intelligence from different levels of the government. Although law enforcement at the local, state, and tribal levels aid in intelligence collection, it is important to ensure that intelligence gathered to protect national security and law enforcement

Fusion centers were created to improve the efficiency of the state and local level of homeland security. "Fusion centers are owned and operated by state and local entities with support from federal partners in the form of deployed personnel, training, technical assistance, exercise support, security clearances, connectivity to federal systems, technology, and grant funding." (U.S. National Intelligence, 2013, p. 20). This initiative is extremely beneficial, because the state level does not always have the means to comb through data. Training also proves to be a costly burden the state cannot always fund. At the national and international level, the country utilizes the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Fusion centers are been extremely effective, because the intelligence gathered in this manner is much more relevant in terms of locale. For example, if the FBI acquires some intelligence about New York City, it does not do much good for California. If California focuses more on itself with the fusion

In order to help member countries report terrorist activity, Interpol has issued practical guidelines on the type of information required. Member countries are also encouraged to report on other crimes which may be linked to terrorism, such as suspicious financial transactions, weapons trafficking, money laundering, falsified travel and identity documents, and seizures of nuclear, chemical and biological materials. The growing possibility of terrorists launching attacks with biological or chemical weapons is a particularly urgent concern. A dedicated bio-terrorism unit at the General Secretariat works to implement various projects with the close co-operation of Interpol National Central Bureaus and regional offices. As the planning for terrorist attacks often spans countries and regions, fighting terrorism requires the same level of effort and cooperation among nations. Spearheading Interpol's anti-terrorism efforts is the Fusion Task Force (FTF), created in September 2002 in the wake of the alarming rise in the scale and sophistication of international terrorist attacks. Task Force Fusion’s primary objectives are to identify terrorist groups and their membership, solicit, collect, and share information and intelligence, provide analytical support, and to enhance the capacity of member countries to address the threats of terrorism.