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The Homeland Security Information Network The Homeland Security Information Network—Law Enforcement organization was established to provide “law enforcement officials at every level of government with a means to collaborate security with partners across the geographic and jurisdictional boundaries” (Homeland Security Information Network—Law Enforcement, n.d., para. 1). The law enforcement network works diligently with DHS to deter weapons smuggling, narcotics trafficking, gang operations, and other criminal activities that threaten homeland security. The network’s most important element of responsibilities is information sharing between homeland security agencies to improve its collaborative efforts, communication methods, and to mitigate potential threats. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the law enforcement network provides increased situational awareness to law enforcement via:

• DHS Situational Awareness Tool

• Real-Time collaboration and instant messaging

• A document library with daily and periodic reporting from federal, state, and local law enforcement sources

• User and “train-the-trainer” instruction (Homeland Security Information Network—Law Enforcement, n.d., para. 5).

In addition to the law enforcement network, DHS has unique partnerships with law enforcement at each level governance to protect the United States. Because these partnerships are vital to protecting homeland and national security, DHS and law enforcement have been charged as the first line of defense to carry out missions throughout the United States. Nearly, 90 percent of DHS employees are dispersed throughout the nation, alongside law enforcement to fulfill this unique mission. The Office for State and Local Law Enforcement is another collaborative effort between law enforcement and homeland security agencies. Congress established the office in response to the 9/11 Commission committee’s recommendation for law enforcement continuity on homeland security mission and objectives. The Commission’s purpose for the office was to:

• Lead the coordination of DHS-wide policies related to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement’s role in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- made disaster within the United States

• Serve as the primary liaison between DHS and non-Federal law enforcement agencies across the country (The Office for State and Local Law Enforcement, n.d., para. 2–3).

The office’s responsibilities are:

• Serve as the primary Department liaison to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement;

• Advise the Secretary on the issues, concerns, and recommendations of state,

local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement;

• Keep the law enforcement community up-to-date on Department-wide activities and initiatives such as “If You See Something, Say Something™”, Campaign, Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), and the Department’s efforts in Countering Violent Extremism;

• Identify and respond to law enforcement challenges that affect homeland

security;

• Coordinate with the Office of Intelligence and Analysis to ensure the timely coordination and distribution of intelligence and strategic information to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement; and

• Work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that law enforcement and terrorism-focused grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies are appropriately focused on terrorism prevention activities (Philpott, 2015, p. 279).

As previously mentioned, information sharing is a critical factor with law enforcement’s relationship with the Department of Homeland Security. Post 9/11, fusion centers were established to increase communication efforts between DHS, first responders, military, intelligence, and emergency management professionals. Fusion centers operate as state and major urban area focal points for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between federal, state, and local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners (State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers, n.d., para. 1). Such fusion centers have been categorized into field of specialty:

• Fusion Centers and Joint Task Forces

• Fusion Centers and FBI Field Intelligence Groups

• Fusion Centers and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas

• Fusion Centers and Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) Centers

• Fusion Centers and Emergency Operations Centers

• Tribal Participation in Fusion Centers

• Deployed Intelligence Officers and Protective Security Advisors

• Private Sector Engagement with Fusion Centers