Homeland Security: Federal Efforts Helping Information Fusion Centers

Most states and many local governments have established fusion centers to address gaps in information sharing. Fusion centers across the country vary in their stages of development, from operational to early in the planning stages. Officials in 43 of the centers GAO contacted described their centers as operational, and 34 of these centers had opened since January 2004. Law enforcement entities, such as state police or state bureaus of investigation, are the lead or managing agencies in the majority of the operational centers GAO contacted; however, the centers varied in their staff sizes and partnerships with other agencies. Nearly all of the operational fusion centers GAO contacted had federal personnel assigned to them. officials at 31 of the 58 centers said they had challenges training their personnel, and officials at 11 centers expressed a need for the federal government to establish standards for training fusion center analysts to help ensure that analysts have similar skills.

The Florida Fusion Center is a component of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Office of Statewide Intelligence. According to FDLE officials, the Office of Statewide Intelligence was created in 1996 with the primary mission “to provide FDLE leadership with sufficient information so that they may make informed decisions on the deployment of resources.” The office is responsible for the coordination of FDLE’s intelligence efforts and analysis and dissemination of intelligence and crime data information. The office has always had an all-crimes approach that was reflective of FDLE’s investigative strategy and focus areas. This approach was enhanced with the addition of a domestic security mission after 9/11. Under the coordination of FDLE, seven regional domestic security task forces were created, along with an analytical unit within the Office of Statewide Intelligence to enhance domestic security and counterterrorism investigative efforts. Each task force is cochaired by an FDLE Special Agent in Charge and a sheriff from the region. The task forces include multidisciplinary partners from education, fire rescue, health, communications, law enforcement, and emergency management. These disciplines are also reflected in the composition of the fusion center.

The Florida Fusion Center was established in January 2007 with a mission to protect the citizens, visitors, resources, and critical infrastructure of Florida by enhancing information sharing, intelligence capabilities, and preparedness operations for all local, state, and federal agencies in accordance with Florida’s Domestic Security Strategy. The fusion center will serve as the state node and will provide connectivity and intelligence sharing amongst Florida’s regional fusion centers. The center consists of approximately 45 FDLE members, federal agencies, state multidisciplinary partners, and includes outreach to private sector entities. FDLE members who are part of the fusion center have assignments to various squads within the Office of Statewide Intelligence, to include counterterrorism intelligence, financial crime analysis, critical infrastructure, and a 24/7 situational awareness unit, the Florida investigative support squad. FFC also has full-time analysts from DHS I&A and the FBI working at the center, as well as representation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The center will add a full-time analyst from the Florida National Guard in October 2007.
State agencies and departments that have committed to participate as members of the Fusion Center Executive Policy Board and have designated an intelligence liaison officer or analyst to the fusion center include: Agriculture; Business and Professional Regulation; Corrections; Education; Emergency Management; Environmental Protection; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Financial Services; Health; Highway Safety; FDLE; Transportation; and the National Guard.