Michigan State University

The intelligence fusion process represents a new chapter in the evolution of law enforcement intelligence. Fusion centers represent a new intelligence structure for most state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to understand and engage. Contrary to intuition, the fusion process (developing intelligence from diverse resources) and the creation of fusion centers (the physical plant) is more involved than merely changing organizational functions of an existing law enforcement intelligence unit. It typically involves either the re-engineering of the entire conceptual framework of the intelligence function in an agency or the creation of an entirely new entity. It requires engaging a wide array of people and organizations to be contributors and consumers of the intelligence function; it involves changing attitudes and processes of personnel; it requires establishing new functional and information sharing processes among state, county, municipal, tribal and federal law enforcement partners; it involves the development of new agreements and functional relationships; the development of new policies and processes; and the inculcation of the Intelligence Led Policing philosophy.