Officials discuss efforts to network crime, terrorism data

The Homeland Security Department is working to connect its nationwide information network to existing law enforcement databases, an official told lawmakers Tuesday.

The department is working with the Justice Department to make the systems "fully compatible in the short term and [is] developing a common system for the future," Patrick Hughes, Homeland Security's assistant secretary for information analysis, told a House Government Reform subcommittee.

Department officials have yet to connect the network to the Law Enforcement Online (LEO) and the secure intranet of the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS). More than 30,000 law enforcement officers use LEO to disseminate and share criminal, cyber and terrorism intelligence across the secured RISS network.

In prepared testimony, Hughes said it is no longer sufficient to have "vertical and horizontal" linkages among law enforcement. Instead, he said, the nation must have a system that lets law enforcement, other "first responders" to emergencies, and decision makers "interact across traditional boundaries seamlessly and effectively."

The department announced last week that it has connected to its information network law enforcement and operators of critical infrastructures in all 50 states and more than 50 urban areas. The network is housed at the Washington-based Homeland Security Operations Center.

Hughes also told the panel the agency is developing its secret-level system, known as Homeland Security Information Network-Secret, to routinely share classified information.

FBI's Willie Hulon, the deputy assistant director of the counter-terrorism division, testified about the bureau's initiatives to better share information, including a new messaging system to disseminate information and responsibilities.

The FBI's automated message system would provide online, secure messaging to users connected to the bureau's databases. Hulon said the system could replace current e-mail systems within the government and allow potentially 2 million military and civilian users to communication via other commercial software products.

Hulon also showcased the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) as a "good example" of the FBI's collaborative relationship to share intelligence information. Some lawmakers have complained that the center, which employs officials from Homeland Security, CIA, FBI and the Pentagon to fuse all information regarding terrorist threats, fails to disseminate relevant information to Homeland Security officials.

On Monday, top lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee expressed concern about the center, saying federal agencies are creating similar infrastructures and "duplicating" TTIC's efforts. TTIC Director John Brennan told California Republican Christopher Cox, chairman of the panel, and Texan Jim Turner, the panel's ranking Democrat, that other agencies are attempting to build their own facilities.