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Fusion Liaison Officer Programs: Effective Sharing of Information to Prevent Crime and Terrorism

NCJ Number
230127
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 77 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 46,50,52,54
Author(s)
Kevin Saupp
Date Published
February 2010
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents an overview of fusion liaison officer (FLO) programs and their effectiveness in offering law enforcement agencies the ability to engage with their local fusion centers and participate in information-sharing.
Abstract
Fusion centers have the ability to fuse and analyze information from multiple sources, jurisdictions, and disciplines into a regional or a State picture and identify events that may be related. FLO programs provide an effective way for law enforcement agencies to engage with fusion centers since FLOs serve as liaisons between their agency and the fusion center. FLO programs are a valuable tool for supporting fusion centers to build their relationships with State and local law enforcement. The FLO program enables fusion centers and participants to establish a wide and deep information-sharing network. This article presents an overview of the FLO program structure and their effectiveness in expanding the gathering of information regarding behaviors and incidents associated with crime and establishing a process to share information to detect and prevent criminal activity, including domestic and international terrorism. 1 note