Module 4:

Law Enforcement Intelligence


Learning Objectives

•Identify the basic concepts of intelligence needs 
for major special events.
•Recognize available methods and technologies 
for obtaining relevant intelligence for major 
special events.
•List available methods and technologies for 
intelligence resources at major special events.



Law Enforcement Intelligence
In retrospect we relied too much on our collective
memory of recent history and placed too little
credence on intelligence.
Seattle WTO after-action report


Key Questions•Does the lead agency have an effective 
intelligence capability?
•Can we obtain support from a state agency with 
an intelligence capability?
•Can we obtain support from, or assign an officer 
to, the local FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force 
(JTTF)?

Text Box: 
Key Questions(cont’d)
•Do state and local law enforcement need security 
clearances?
•Do we have adequate intelligence support to conduct 
threat ad risk assessments?
•Do we need to employ intelligence resources in the 
field during the event?

Internal Capabilities
Before any major event, or upon notification that a major
special event is planned for a community, the agency must
assess its intelligence capabilities.


In-House Intelligence

•Offense reports
•Arrest reports
•Citizen complaints
•Unusual occurrences
•Informants 



•Patrol officer 
observations
•Field interview cards
•Citizen contacts
•Calls for service
•Suspicious activity 
reports


In-House Support

Text Box: Follow up on intelligence needs
Internet blog sites
Internet resource sites
Media sources
Gang data
•Follow up on 
intelligence needs•Internet blog sites•Internet resource 
sites•Media sources•Gang data

External Support

•Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF)
•State terrorism task forces
•Local/county task forces



Security Clearances

Agencies joining task forces or intelligence groups will most
often be notified of security clearance issues and may
assign a specific officer for clearance approval. Preparation
well in advance will alleviate crisis situations when it comes
to clearance time frames.


Federal Support

•FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF)
•FBI Field Intelligence Groups (FIG)
•Secret Service threat assessment
•Department of Homeland Security
•Department of Defense
•El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC)
•IMapdata



Intelligence Sharing

Agencies must be aware of constitutional issues

surrounding the collection and sharing of information 

and consult with their legal advisors.


Intelligence Planning Group

•Serves as resource to other committees
•Assists in threat/risk assessment
•Provides special intelligence bulletins
•Researches vulnerabilities
•Establishes contact with outside resources (phone, 
electric, etc.)
•Uses Internet as information source
•Assesses preliminary intelligence reports



Seattle WTO 1999

Intelligence assessments were not integrated into the
planning process in a timeframe that allowed the depth of
comprehensive contingency planning.
Seattle WTO after-action report


Internet Information

•Washington, D.C., Metro Police 2002 WTO 
•Tulsa, Oklahoma, County Fair



Community/Police Partnerships

•Invaluable in prevention of terrorist activity
•Provide information on otherwise unnoticed 
neighborhood activity
•Police provide alerts on traffic disruptions
•Police provide information on possible demonstrations 



Intelligence During the Event

Central Command

•Intelligence officer present in central 
command center:
•Provides briefings with posted times
•Gives intelligence assessments
•Provides information on wanted subjects
•Investigate leads on possible threats



Intelligence During Event (cont’d)

Field operations:

•Provide real-time information


•Report suspicious activity
•Monitor crowd gatherings
•Obtain information from informants
•Infiltrate suspicious groups



Acting on Intelligence Information
Decisions have to be made on how to act on
Intelligence information. A coordinated effort with 
the persons providing threat assessments is critical. 


Conclusion



Tabletop Exercise

Continuation of Module 1 Tabletop Exercise,

“Pre-Planning for Major Events”


BREAK