Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center commemorates 5th
anniversary
Send a link to a friend
[June 07, 2008]
SPRINGFIELD
-- The Illinois State Police announced Thursday that the Statewide
Terrorism and Intelligence Center is commemorating its five-year
anniversary. The center is a 24/7 all-crimes fusion center staffed
by analytical personnel from the Illinois State Police, Illinois
National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement
Agency and Department of Homeland Security. The center was fully
functional in May 2003 after Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich appropriated $1
million to establish it and was one of the first 24/7 state fusion
centers to emerge after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
|
"The tragic events of Sept. 11 necessitated all
law enforcement and emergency responders to come together to not
only ensure a strategic and comprehensive response to a critical
incident, but to do whatever we could to stop the threat before it
occurs," said Illinois State Police Director Larry G. Trent.
"Governor Blagojevich gave us the resources necessary to create a
fusion center to further homeland security."
Proposed by the Illinois State Police and Illinois Association of
Chiefs of Police, in conjunction with their partners in the criminal
justice community, the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center
is a one-stop resource for police officers to obtain information
related to criminal activity. Analysts perform a comprehensive
search of all available databases and resources, negating the need
for an officer to make a series of independent, time-consuming
contacts to obtain a fraction of the information.
![Auto Parts](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jan/02/images/ads/current/napa%20bca%20040707.png)
The Illinois center has become a model for other state fusion
centers. The state police director is a member of the U.S.
Department of Justice's Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council,
which serves as an advisory body to the federal government through
the attorney general. The council developed the recommendations used
in the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan, the Fusion
Center Guidelines, the Law Enforcement Analyst Certification
Standards and many other Department of Justice publications.
[to top of second column]
![Employment](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jun/07/images/ads/current/internet_marketing_manager_sda050108.gif)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jun/07/images/ads/current/business_directory_button.png) |
![Furniture](../images/ads/current/lees_lda042808.png)
While much had been done to increase security, revise response
protocols and strengthen interagency partnerships in anticipation of
the next terrorist attack, a consistent concern voiced by law
enforcement officers was the lack of intelligence information being
exchanged at all levels.
In November 2005, the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center
moved its operations to the newly constructed Statewide Emergency
Operations Center, home of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
This partnership allows for better communication and accessibility
between emergency responders and the law enforcement intelligence
community.
In April 2008, the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center
received a Special Achievement Award from the Law Enforcement
Intelligence Unit, a nationwide professional association of law
enforcement agencies having an intelligence function. The award is
in recognition of outstanding contributions to the law enforcement
intelligence community.
The Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center continues to
provide a critical service to Illinois criminal justice agencies and
currently focuses on terrorism, narcotics, violent crimes, Internet
crimes, motor vehicle theft and missing children, as well as
outreach to the private sector. The center continues to serve as a
model for other state agencies nationwide through public-private
partnerships and innovative technology solutions.
[Text from file received from
Illinois State Police]
![Appliances](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2008/Jun/07/images/ads/current/mcquellons-bch-040108.png) |