Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Visits the FBI New York's JTTF

Today, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano paid a visit to the FBI’s New York Office. She was hosted by Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) Janice K. Fedarcyk, Counterterrorism Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Greg Fowler, and members of the FBI New York’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), who were proud to share with Secretary Napolitano a briefing on the operations of the task force in this office. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the JTTF, the first of which was established in New York City in 1980.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and FBI New York ADIC Janice K. Fedarcyk during today’s meeting. Photo Credit: FBI New York

During her visit this afternoon, Secretary Napolitano said, “You are all the tip of the spear in securing this country. All the policies in the world wouldn’t be possible without the extraordinary commitment of people on the ground. Every year, 9/11 is a sobering time—but it’s the touchstone for what we do, here, in D.C., around the country, and around the world. The American people know that it’s people like you who are guarding against that kind of terror every day.”

There are 106 FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces around the country where local, state, and federal agencies work together to combat terrorism on a regional scale, including at least one in each of our 56 field offices. A total of 71 of these JTTFs have been created since 9/11. Today, the JTTFs include more than 4,400 members nationwide—more than four times the pre-9/11 total—hailing from over 600 state and local agencies and 50 federal agencies (the Department of Homeland Security and its components Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration, as well as the U.S. military, to name a few). Established in 2002, the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF) is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all those regional task forces. This fusion of local, state, and federal agencies acts as an integrated force to combat terrorism on a national and international scale.

NYPD Deputy Chief James Shea said, “The relationships between our local, state and federal law enforcement partners have been strengthened through the JTTF and continue to improve upon our information and intelligence sharing capabilities. Coordination between all agencies is essential to achieving the common goal of protecting our citizens. Today’s meeting serves as an example of the success of this joint effort.”

ADIC Janice K. Fedarcyk added, “It was my pleasure to welcome Secretary Napolitano to the FBI’s New York Office. We enjoyed an open discussion on matters of importance, not only to those of us in the intelligence community, but also to those who respect the safety and security of our nation. We recognize the need for collaboration between all members of the intelligence community and law enforcement in bringing forth a successful outcome on all fronts.”