Integration of Virtual Public-Private Partnerships into Local Law Enforcement to Achieve Enhanced Intelligence-Led Policing

摘要

In light of the recent emergence of fusion centers and centralized intelligence units, and the move to develop intelligence capacity within local law enforcement agencies in the United States, intelligence-led policing (ILP) is well-positioned to be on the nation's law enforcement agenda for the next decade. ILP relies on robust data collection from a wide range of sources to create intelligence products that can influence decision makers, and ultimately, impact the criminal environment. Virtual public-private partnerships (VP3s) offer local law enforcement agencies an effective and efficient way to leverage a vast and resourceful private sector for the purpose of enhancing ILP. A VP3 can exponentially enhance data collection capacity, facilitate the utilization of the private sector as a force multiplier, and provide the means by which local policing agencies can begin to instill a culture of preparedness in the citizens they serve. This thesis includes case studies of three VP3s - Citizen Observer, NYPD Shield, and the Nassau County Security/Police Information Network (SPIN). In addition, virtual communities and social capital are examined with an eye towards the potential impact on crime, homeland security, and ILP. The findings of this thesis form the framework for a VP3-enhanced model of intelligence-led policing.