State level intelligence doctrine: bridging the gap

• Main Author: Franklin, David
• Other Authors: Dahl, Erik
• Published: Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School 2014
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/38931

CHDS State/Local === Current intelligence activities conducted by law enforcement agencies in the United States are primarily limited to criminal investigations. This is a problem because as the 9/11 commission recognized, the fight against terrorism requires a greater focus on domestic intelligence and greater coordination between national, local, state and tribal agencies. Existing guidance and laws create an environment in which state and local law enforcement agencies have limited knowledge on how to navigate and participate in the broader national intelligence and homeland security effort. The research question posed is, How can state police agencies, in conjunction with Department of Homeland Security recognized state level fusion centers, establish field intelligence operational doctrine to develop or enhance existing police intelligence operations while bridging the gap between federal intelligence community partners and local stakeholders? Establishing a formal doctrine on domestic law enforcement intelligence will bridge the gap of information and intelligence flow in the intelligence cycle by defining methods, strategies, field craft and ethos. Case studies were reviewed, and it was determined that blending practices from the U.S. military, the United Kingdom and current law enforcement strategies, will begin the establishment of doctrine and dismantle barriers between the formal intelligence community and the domestic law enforcement agencies.