Support for Sustainability of Fusion Centers

Submitted by: Homeland Security Committee

HS.010.a09

WHEREAS, the IACP recognizes in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a need exists to address the deficiencies that exist in the United States with the collection, analysis and dissemination of criminal intelligence; and

WHEREAS, the IACP convened stakeholders in a policy summit to address these deficiencies and to ensure that state, local and tribal law enforcement is involved in the intelligence process; and

WHEREAS, the policy summit bore out elements of and recommendations within the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (NCISP); and

WHEREAS, the NCISP put forth the following need, &.to identify an intelligence information sharing capability that can be widely accessed by local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement and public safety agencies; and

WHEREAS, that need drove the establishment of fusion centers as effective and efficient mechanisms to exchange information and intelligence, maximize resources, streamline operations, and improve the ability to fight crime and terrorism by merging data from a variety of sources; and

WHEREAS, the National Strategy for Information Sharing designates fusion centers as the focus within the state and local environment for the receipt and sharing of terrorism information, homeland security information, and law enforcement information related to terrorism; and

WHEREAS, many states, cities and regions have created local fusion centers to share information and intelligence within their jurisdictions as well as with the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the sustainability of fusion centers is a critical element of our nations homeland security strategy and our respective communities security; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 116th Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado strongly supports the continued substantive, fiscal and operational support provided to fusion centers by governments at both the state and federal level.