INTERPOL Washington Receives Recognition from DHS

On November 7^th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) recognized the partnership of INTERPOL Washington—the U.S. National Central Bureau—in homeland security intelligence sharing.  OIA nominated INTERPOL Washington for the “HSIN-Intel Partner of the Year” that honors National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) partners for significant contributions to the sharing of unclassified intelligence information and products, analytic collaboration, and real-time information exchange via the HSIN-Intel platform. The nomination was announced during the 2018 National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) Annual Training Event in Alexandria, VA.  

INTERPOL Washington was nominated for its sharing of Orange and Purple Notices with U.S. and international law enforcement. Orange notices warn of an event, a person, an object or a process representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety. Purple notices provide information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals. Additional criteria for the award nominations include providing exceptional resources/services, serving as an example of best practices to the Nation; enhancing analytic collaboration and real-time information exchange Nationwide; and directly contributing to improving the awareness of threats and efforts to enhance security postures through information sharing.

Fusion centers operate as state and major urban area focal points for receiving, analyzing, gathering, and sharing threat-related information between federal; state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT); and private sector partners. The NFCA represents the interests of those partners in order to promote the development and sustainment of fusion centers to enhance public safety; encourage effective, efficient, ethical, lawful, and professional intelligence and information sharing; and prevent and reduce the harmful effects of crime and terrorism on victims, individuals, and communities.

A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, INTERPOL Washington is co-managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the designated representative to INTERPOL on behalf of the Attorney General, INTERPOL Washington serves as the national point of contact for all INTERPOL matters, coordinating international investigative efforts among member countries and the more than 18,000 local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States.