Partnerships

In this complex, globalized, post 9/11 world, our operational partnerships have never been more important to our efforts to protect your communities.

Today, we work with colleagues at every level of government—local, state, federal, even international—across the law enforcement, intelligence, and first responder communities. We lead and take part in multi-agency task forces, intelligence groups and fusion centers, and public and private sector alliances. A number of our partners literally sit shoulder-to-shoulder with us in FBI space, just as we share our agents and analysts with other agencies. We work closely on joint investigations—sometimes taking the lead, sometimes taking a back seat to others, sometimes contributing equally among many agencies. Our work with our colleagues, in fact, is so intertwined today that it’s often impossible to separate the contributions of one agency—and one nation—from the next.

In Norfolk, our major partnerships include:

• The Tidewater Joint Terrorism Task Force (TJTTF) was established in December 2001. In addition to FBI special agents, the task force brings together representatives from local, state, military, and federal agencies to run down any and all terrorism leads, develop and investigate cases, provide support for special events, and proactively identify threats that may impact the area and the nation.

• The Norfolk Field Intelligence Group, commonly referred to as the Norfolk FIG, was created in September 2003. The FIG consists of a team of FBI agents and analysts who provide a full range of intelligence support on terrorism and criminal threats. It includes the human intelligence unit, which manages the intelligence provided by human sources.

• Norfolk agents work closely with local law enforcement, members of the banking and health care industry, other federal, state, and local agencies and prosecutors in conducting their investigations. The Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group, Health Care Fraud Working Group, and Environmental Crimes Working Group are three such partnerships. In addition, Norfolk agents are members of the Virginia Bank Security Association and the International Association of Special Investigations Units in the insurance industry.

• To battle cyber crime, we have the following key partnerships:

• Our Cyber Crime Working Group (CCWG) was established locally in January 2003. It brings together local, state, and federal experts to combat violations in which the Internet, computer systems, or networks are exploited. The working group investigates the spread of computer/high-technology crimes, telecommunications fraud, crimes against children, identity thefts, and the recovery/analysis of digital evidence.
• The Norfolk InfraGard Chapter is the local arm a national information-sharing alliance between private industry, academia, and government focused on protecting critical national infrastructures in both the online and offline worlds.

• We also lead or take part in major partnerships targeting violent crime:

• Our Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task Force in Norfolk combines state and local law enforcement agencies with our special agents to pool expertise and resources in targeting street gangs and violent criminals of all kinds. We work to round up violent fugitives, including gang members and sexual predators. The Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task force’s zero tolerance enforcement approach contributed to a dramatic drop in Portsmouth’s violent crime rate.
• In 2003, we combined forces with the Newport News Police Department to address violent street gang activity in the east end of Newport News.