How far have we come? Information sharing, interagency collaboration, and trust within the law enforcement community

Abstract

After the 9/11 attacks, the law enforcement and intelligence communities adopted the rhetoric and goals of enhanced information sharing and interagency collaboration, particularly within the context of fusion centers. Although the 9/11 terrorist attacks benchmarked a turning point within the domestic law enforcement community, there has been little research investigating what changes have occurred over the past decade. Drawing on data collected from 49 interviews with individuals working with four state fusion centers and the federal government, this article concludes that there have been many positive strides with respect to information sharing and interagency collaboration; however, interpersonal relationships and trust lie at the core of true change.

Keywords:

• collaboration
• trust
• fusion center
• law enforcement
• information sharing