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 nearly impossible to separate the contributions of one agency—and one nation—from the next.

In Portland, our major partnerships include:

The Portland Joint Terrorism Task Force

The Portland Division’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) was established in 1997. Before 9/11, it focused primarily on domestic terrorism issues. Since then, the scope and size of the JTTF has rapidly increased to meet the challenge of international terrorism that confronts our country and the state of Oregon. Beyond the FBI agents assigned to the JTTF, current members include:

Counterterrorism Working Groups

In addition to the full-time members of the JTTF, the FBI has cleared representatives from numerous agencies that serve on a part-time working group liaison basis, assist in investigations as required, and/or obtain classified briefings as deemed necessary. Executives from these agencies also attend quarterly JTTF Executive Board Meetings. Currently, the following partner agencies are represented on the Portland JTTF working group:

The JTTF investigates both domestic and international terrorism matters as well as threats of large-scale bombings, arsons, and weapons of mass destruction incidents. In addition to the JTTF based in the Portland-metro area, there are established Terrorism Working Groups in each of the FBI’s resident agency offices across Oregon. These Terrorism Working Groups have dozens of additional law enforcement officers who have received the appropriate clearances to be briefed and assist on terrorism-related matters as needed.

Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force

The Southern Oregon High-Tech Crimes Task Force provides cyber crime investigations and digital forensic services to half of the state of Oregon. The task force conducts both proactive and reactive investigations in areas such as national security, child exploitation, identity theft, intellectual property crimes, white-collar crime, and more. The forensics laboratory is accredited by ASCLD/LAB in the digital and multimedia forensics disciplines. Member agencies include the FBI, the Central Point Police Department, the Medford Police Department, the Ashland Police Department, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, the Klamath Falls Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. For further information about the task force, visit its website at http://www.hightechcops.com

Innocent Images Task Force

The Innocent Images Task Force works to combat child pornography and child predators online. This group takes a proactive approach, using undercover identities to surf the Internet looking for those who are trafficking in child pornography or who are attempting to lure children away from their families. The Beaverton Police Department, and the Hillsboro Police Department take part in this task force.

InfraGard

The FBI’s InfraGard program allows private industry, the academic community, and the public sector to receive and exchange information with the FBI via secure Internet connections about possible threats as well as to receive tools to help deal with those threats. If your organization is interested in joining InfraGard, please contact the Portland FBI.

Northwest Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (NWRCFL)

The Portland Division is also home to the Northwest Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory or NWRCFL, one of several of such labs located throughout the United States. These RCFLs are one-stop, full-service forensics laboratories and training centers devoted to the examination of digital evidence in support of law enforcement investigations. The Northwest RCFL is staffed by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, who all must pass a rigorous training program to become certified as forensic examiners by the FBI’s Computer Analysis and Response Team. The RCFL’s secondary mission is to provide law enforcement personnel in the area with high-quality technical and digital forensics training in our state-of-the-art, digital training classroom. The RCFL offers a variety of different courses geared to the specific needs of our partners in law enforcement. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.nwrcfl.org.

Safe Streets Task Force

The FBI partners with all local law enforcement agencies to address bank robberies in the region. In addition, the Metro Gang Task Force falls under the Safe Streets banner. The FBI has joined with the Portland Police Bureau, the Hillsboro Police Department, the Beaverton Police Department, the Milwaukie Police Department, the Gresham Police Department, and the Vancouver Police Department to better share information and coordinate the apprehension of violent gang members.

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Forces

The following counties are designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas in Oregon: Umatilla, Jackson, Deschutes, Marion, Douglas, Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas. When an area receives this designation from the federal government, that area is eligible for increased federal funding and the tools to help the various local, state, and federal agencies form partnerships to coordinate and cooperate to a greater degree in drug-fighting efforts.