Adopted at the 121st Annual Conference

Orlando, Florida

October 21, 2014

Support of the National Network of Fusion Centers

Submitted by: Homeland Security Committee

CHS. 002.T14

WHEREAS, fusion centers are [post-9/11] information sharing centers that are state or locally operated entities, designated and recognized by each state's governor. The concept of the fusion center is defined as "a collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and/or information to the center with the goal of maximizing the ability to detect, prevent, investigate, apprehend, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity."

WHEREAS, since 2004, state and major urban area fusion centers have been established throughout the nation to further aid in and improve information sharing among state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT), private sector, and federal partners.

WHEREAS, in 2007, the Secretary for Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General issued a letter to each governor, requesting the designation of " …a single fusion center to serve as the statewide or regional hub to interface with the federal government and through which to coordinate the gathering, processing, analysis, and dissemination of terrorism, law enforcement, and homeland security information …" Further, the letter requested the development of a strategy that "is consistent with federal efforts to constitute the Information Sharing Environment," which also includes any major urban area fusion center.

WHEREAS, the culmination of state and major urban area fusion centers across the country are referred to as the National Network of Fusion Centers (NNFC, or the National Network).

WHEREAS, per the 2013 "Majority Staff Report on the National Network of Fusion Centers," released by the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, "The National Network [of Fusion Centers] is on a path of continued growth, improvement, and increasing value to both the Federal Government and the fusion centers' individual customers." The National Network is designed to connect the fusion centers as an enterprise through their information sharing efforts with federal partners and within their area of responsibility among state, local, tribal, territorial and private partners, creating a national asset, which serves as a front line of defense in protecting the homeland.

WHEREAS, many federal partners, including but not limited to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Office of the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), have supported this nationwide effort, providing assistance in various forms—such as training, technical assistance, funding, and/or personnel—to fusion centers, assisting in enhancing the value and impact of individual fusion centers, as well as the National Network of Fusion Centers, and mitigating center capability gaps. Therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police supports the National Network of Fusion Centers and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon federal agencies to work with, and support, the continued evolution of the National Network of Fusions Center; be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, the United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Majority Staff Report on The National Network of Fusion Centers provides a number of important and useful recommendations that, if adopted, could enhance the effectiveness of the fusion center network. The IACP calls on federal, state, and local agencies to carefully review the report and adopt those recommendations that are appropriate for the agency and mission; be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the IACP promotes the federal partners continued support of state and major urban fusion centers by federal agencies in deployed personnel and systems, training, and collaboration; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the IACP promotes continued collaboration between the National Network of Fusion Centers and federal partners to demonstrate the value and usability of fusion centers in achieving national goals and initiatives; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the IACP promotes the vision of the National Network of Fusion Centers, which is to be a multidisciplinary, all-crimes/all-threats/all-hazards information sharing network that protects our nation's security and the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of our citizens.