Partnerships

Partnerships

Operational partnerships are the backbone of modern law enforcement and have never been more important to our efforts to combat terrorism and criminal activity. We work with every level of law enforcement in Washington state through multi-agency task forces, intelligence groups, and fusion centers. We also host and participate in public and private sector alliances.

Some of our major partnerships in Seattle include:

• The Puget Sound Joint Terrorism Task Force (PSJTTF) was formed in 2000. Participating agencies provide personnel to the task force for extended periods of time to work with the FBI in conducting domestic and international terrorism investigations. Combining the skills, tools, and resources of the various agencies enables the task force to be more effective in preventing and solving acts of terrorism and supporting cases nationwide and worldwide.
• The Seattle Field Intelligence Group is a team of FBI agents and analysts that provides intelligence support on terrorism and criminal matters. It works closely with the Washington Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC), a state-supported intelligence collection and analysis center housed in the Seattle FBI office and staffed by local and state law enforcement agencies.
• The Puget Sound Counterterrorism Working Group enables federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the Puget Sound area to share information and conduct terrorism investigations in cases where there is overlapping jurisdiction or the need for the resources of multiple agencies not currently participating in the PSJTTF.
• The Northwest Cyber Crime Task Force consists of investigators from the FBI, the Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Washington State Patrol, and the Seattle Police Department. The task force is dedicated to addressing terrorist and criminal cyber threats.
• The Innocence Lost Task Force provides a rapid and effective investigative response to reported federal crimes involving the victimization of children. It reduces the vulnerability of children to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse; limits the negative impact of domestic/international parental rights disputes; and strengthens the capabilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement through training programs and investigative assistance. The task force is a partnership between the Seattle Police Department vice unit and the Seattle FBI.
• The Seattle Safe Streets Task Force works to identify, disrupt, and dismantle existing and emerging violent criminal enterprises and gangs in King County as well as other individuals and groups whose criminal activity negatively impacts the Puget Sound area.
• The Thomas Wales Task Force includes FBI agents and Seattle Police Department homicide detectives who continue to investigate the murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Wales on October 11, 2001.

Our partnerships in northwestern Washington include:

• The Everett Joint Terrorism Task Force investigates international and domestic terrorism—including eco-terrorism—in Snohomish and Skagit counties. Task force members also coordinate with the Bellingham Counterterrorism Working Group, which covers Whatcom County.
• The Innocence Lost Task Force in Everett, Washington is a partnership between the Everett Police Department and the FBI.
• The Safe Trails Task Force brings together tribal police, the FBI, and local departments to address drug trafficking on Indian Country land.

Our partnerships in eastern Washington include:

• The Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force investigates international and domestic terrorism in eastern Washington.
• The Eastern Washington Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task Force addresses gang and drug distribution activities in Spokane and eastern Washington.
• The Salish Safe Trails Task Force works to stem illegal drug trafficking and violent crime in Indian Country.
• The Tri-Cities Violent Gang Task Force operates in Richland, Washington.

Our partnerships in southwestern Washington include:

• The South Sound Gang Task Force in Tacoma, Washington;
• The Innocent Images Task Force in Tacoma; and
• The Southwest Washington Interagency Gang Enforcement Team in Vancouver, Washington.