DELAWARE STATE POLICE INTELLIGENCE UNIT
Captain William T. Harris
The Criminal Intelligence investigators participate in professional organizations, both regionally and nationally. Regionally, the section is a member of the Combined Law Enforcement Intelligence Group, or CLEIG, which is comprised of members in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Nationally, the Section is a member of the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, or LEIU, which has a strong national membership and has been in existence since 1958. Other national memberships are the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association (IOMGIA), the National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI), the Mid-Atlantic Gang Investigators Network (MARGIN), and the East Coast Gang Investigators Association (ECGIA). Membership to these organizations ensures the Criminal Intelligence Section and the Delaware State Police are maintaining professional standards in the area of intelligence management, staying abreast of current threat issues, and obtaining the most current intelligence information available from credible sources.
With many Delaware communities beginning to experience an increase in street gang activity, the Delaware State Police found it necessary to consider the establishment of a specialized gang unit investigator. The assigning of this officer to "street gang" investigations within the Criminal Intelligence Section has helped to develop a thoughtful and coordinated response to addressing the ever evolving issues pertaining to street gangs within the State of Delaware.
The Counter-Terrorism Unit that was established in April of 2002 continues homeland security efforts and protects the citizenry and key assets of Delaware. This unit works directly with the U.S. Attorney's Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC); the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the United States Secret Service; the United States Coast Guard; the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE); the U.S. Postal Inspector; the Delaware National Guard; all U.S. military service investigative units; other state police agencies; and regional, county/ municipal law enforcement agencies. The Counter-Terrorism Unit is charged with investigating terrorism activities within the state of Delaware and works with federal agents to develop criminal intelligence information and criminal prosecutions in this area. This unit also monitors the toll-free tip line for leads and assigns theses leads appropriately to various law enforcement jurisdictions.
The Electronic Surveillance Unit is another unit within the Criminal Intelligence Section. The Electronic Surveillance Unit assists investigative units within the Division of State Police in addition to local and federal agencies. The Electronic Surveillance Unit procures and distributes all video and audio equipment for the Division and is tasked with the maintenance of the electronic equipment throughout the Division. In the course of criminal investigations, detectives within the unit also supply detectives in the field with specialized electronic equipment that may be required for a successful case conclusion and prosecution. During the 2006 calendar year requests for service more than doubled.
In response to the sophistication of computer technology and resources challenging Delaware law enforcement to investigate high technology and computer crimes, the Delaware State Police established the High Technology Crimes Unit (HTCU). HTCU provides all Delaware law enforcement agencies technical and investigative expertise on computer-related crimes. Its mission is to provide computer and high technology forensic capabilities; be a resource for law enforcement and government agencies on computer or high tech crime issues; provide training to the public, law enforcement and government agencies on the threat and awareness of computer crime; and proactively work to identify computer criminals and prevent future cyber crimes. In 2006, the demands for HTCU services have increased dramatically and will continue to increase with the ever-evolving technological advances in the world. HTCU will continue to navigate this fast-changing terrain in an effort to outpace those who use the computer for criminal activity and victimization.
The Delaware Information Analysis Center (DIAC) has completed one year of service while serving as a component of the Criminal Intelligence and Homeland Security Section. This center was initiated in direct response to an immediate need to share, analyze, integrate, and disseminate information/intelligence among the many agencies protecting the citizens of Delaware against threats from numerous sources. The federal government has officially recognized this effort and labeled this type of enterprise a "fusion center." The concept of DIAC goes beyond the belief that law enforcement is the sole protector of the public. DIAC operates under an "all crimes, all hazards" approach to increasing homeland security, serving as the hub in our state for The Delaware State Police Criminal Intelligence Section is commanded by Captain William Harris and has several units within the section. The Intelligence Investigations Unit, Gang Unit, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Joint Terrorism Task Force, and the Electronic Surveillance Unit, fall under the supervision of Lieutenant Tom Ford. The High Technology Crimes Unit and the Delaware Internet Crimes against Children Task Force fall under the supervision of Lieutenant Robert Moses, and the Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC), falls under the supervision of Lieutenant Thomas Brackin. The units and task forces that make up the Criminal Intelligence Section serve as a support function for all Delaware law enforcement, statewide.
Criminal Intelligence Investigators participate in professional organizations, both regionally and nationally. Regionally, the section is a member of the Combined Law Enforcement Intelligence Group, or CLEIG, which is comprised of members from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Nationally, the section is a member of the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, or LEIU, which has a strong national membership and has been in existence since 1958. Other national memberships are the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association (IOMGIA), the National Bunco Investigators (NABI), the Mid-Atlantic Gang Investigators Network (MARGIN), and the East Coast Gang Investigators Association (ECGIA). Membership to these organizations ensures the Criminal Intelligence Section and the Delaware State Police are maintaining professional standards in the area of intelligence management, staying abreast of current threat issues, and obtaining the most current intelligence information available from credible sources. Investigations within the Criminal Intelligence Investigations Unit vary from domestic and international extremists, left and right wing extreme groups, hate groups, gangs, and organized crime.
The investigators in this section are considered experts in their particular fields. Their recognized expertise has led them to receive numerous requests for training in the areas of Transient Criminal Groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs during 2006 and 2007.
The investigations conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Unit and the Delaware Joint Terrorism Task Force are confidential, and federal law, which mandates the dissemination of intelligence information to law enforcement only, governs their activity. The investigators within this unit have federal national security clearances to work and share information with our federal partners in the area of homeland security.
The heart of DIAC continues to be the analytical staff which is powered by four full-time DSP and two full-time Delaware National Guard intelligence analysts. They serve as the core of DIAC by taking in large volumes of raw data, analyzing it, and generating intelligence information. In addition, they facilitate broad-range sharing of information on a local, state, and federal level.
In 2007, the Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC)
matured greatly as Delaware's State Fusion Center. In only its second
full year as Delaware's fusion center, DIAC has become an
integral part of Delaware's criminal intelligence, criminal investigation
and information sharing mission. The DIAC has enhanced its
main focus on terrorism prevention and moved towards an "all
crimes, all hazards" concept. The DIAC gathers information from
law enforcement, other public and governmental entities, and the
private sector, fuses the information together and puts it back out
for use by the various decision makers and leaders in Delaware
who have the need and right to know. Armed with credible intelligence
and information provided by the DIAC, Delaware's leaders
in government, law enforcement, emergency services and the private
sector are better able coordinate and protect the citizens,
property, and business interests of all Delawareans.
