Increasing information sharing among independent police departments

Abstract

The events of September 11, 2001, clearly demonstrated the need for law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels to increase their capacity to share information with one another. The 9/11 Commission asserted that the World Trade Center attacks occurred in part because law enforcement was unable to connect the dots, which may have provided the opportunity to disrupt the terrorists' mission. However, upon reflection and further investigation it seems probable that prior to the attacks there simply was not enough information (dots) to raise concern or suspicion about that fateful day. One can argue that the need for accurate information shared in a timely manner is the lifeblood of any agency responsible for defending the home front. This dynamic is further enhanced when municipal law enforcement agencies exist within a large urban area such as Los Angeles County (CA), which is a target rich environment. Using a quantitative analysis this thesis examines information and intelligence sharing networks, data collection methodologies, common technical platforms (voice and data), and financial considerations toward increasing information sharing among independent police departments and suggests methods to improve information sharing capabilities.