Joint command center to track Southern California terror threats

[Soldier4Christ]

Joint command center to track Southern California terror threats

Hoping to better secure Southern California against attacks, the FBI, local police and other law enforcement agencies have banded together to create a first-of-its-kind command center to better share intelligence on terrorist threats.

The Joint Regional Intelligence Center will track terrorist activity with help from officials who specialize in fields such as epidemiology and chemical attacks, while analyzing real-time threat information to the region.

"It's really unique that we have so many players coming together," Willie T. Hulon, FBI executive assistant director, said at the center's opening Thursday. "This will be a model for the rest of the country."

The goal, authorities said, is to cut down the time it takes agents from various agencies to share leads through phone calls and e-mail and avoid duplicating their efforts.

"Now we have multiple agencies in one place doing business," said Los Angeles police Lt. Robert Fox, who along with FBI and sheriff's officials comprise the center's unified command. "It brought all of our capabilities and expertise together instead of doing it through telephone calls and e-mails."

There are other such "fusion centers" in California and around the country, according to sheriff's Lt. Robert Galarneau. And Hulon said the FBI is pushing its field offices to reach out to the local center and see how they can assist.

What's different with the new center located in a Los Angeles suburb is its responsibility and scale: 62 personnel from at least 15 agencies including the federal Department of Homeland Security watch over seven counties that are home to more than 18 million people.

In New York, for example, a center is operated and staffed largely by police.

"No place is going to be better prepared to defend against terrorism," Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton said.

Based on the seventh floor of an office building, the center will include a main floor of desks known as the "bullpen" where officers can review computer systems with classified information. The FBI's threat squad, the bureau's first responders to terrorist activity, is housed off the main floor.

The center is divided into several groups that analyze information, correspond with outside agencies and manage emergency responses, among other tasks. There are epidemiologists, forensic analysts and firefighters based at the center.

Steven Oda, an FBI supervisory special agent, said the center is working to bring more agencies into the fold and widen its access to classified information.

About $6 million has been spent so far on the facility.

"There's nothing like being in one place," Oda said. "There's no technology solution, no amount of e-mail or phone calls that's going to replace that."