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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNITES LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENTS IN JOINING INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON STATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 4, 2005, the Department of Justice (DOJ) formally entered into an information-sharing partnership with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and state and local law enforcement agencies in Washington State, the Department announced today.

This partnership represents a first-time effort by the Justice Department to share information from multiple Department components through a single access point with more than 30 state and local law enforcement agencies. Prior to this partnership, DOJ agencies shared information with law enforcement partners through separate arrangements and systems.

The pilot program will connect DOJ—using the FBI=s Regional Data Exchange system (R-DEx)—with the Northwest Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) system. This partnership is intended to share information to more effectively investigate, disrupt, and deter criminal activity, including terrorism. R-Dex and LInX are expected to be fully connected by September 1, 2005.

Deputy Attorney James B. Comey directed the Department=s participation with LInX and described it as an historic opportunity to arm federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in a single region with 21st century crime-fighting tools.

“In our digital age, law enforcement officers at every level must be able to make timely and effective use of records and reports from sister agencies,” said Deputy Attorney General Comey. “Otherwise, we fight crime and terrorism wearing blinders.”

The DOJ components participating in the information-sharing partnership are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

Deputy Attorney General Comey acknowledged the leadership of NCIS Director Dave Brant; Tim Kimsey, Chief of the Port of Seattle Police Department, who represents the state and local agencies that comprise LInX; John McKay, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington; and Jim McDevitt, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

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