Partnerships

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 Buffalo, our major partnerships include:

• The Buffalo Joint Terrorism Task Force brings together representatives of 18 local, state, and federal agencies to run down any and all terrorism leads, develop and investigate cases, provide support for special events, and proactively identify threats that may impact the area and the nation. We also have a satellite Joint Terrorism Task Force working out of the Rochester Resident Agency.

• The Buffalo Field Intelligence Group, a team of FBI agents and analysts, provides a full range of intelligence support on terrorism and criminal threats.

• The Buffalo Division participates in the FBI Counterintelligence Strategic Partnership Program, a national partnership between private industry, academia, government agencies, the FBI, and its counterintelligence community partners to identify and protect projects of great importance to the U.S. government.

• The Western New York Health Care Fraud Task Force works closely with private insurers and local and state law enforcement to combat widespread fraud in the health care industry.

• To battle cyber crime, we have a number of key partnerships:

• Our Cyber Crime Task Force in Buffalo brings together local, state, and federal experts to combat computer intrusions, viruses, and other cyber threats.
• We participate in the Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI)—a component of the FBI’s Cyber Crimes Program—which is an intelligence-driven, proactive, multi-agency investigative initiative combating online proliferation of child pornography and sexual exploitation. IINI also helps identify and rescue child victims; investigate and prosecute sexual predators who sexually exploit children online for personal or financial gain; and strengthen law enforcement capabilities through training and investigative assistance.
• The Buffalo Division is also home to one of several Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories (RCFLs) across the country. 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 Western New York RCFL combines the talents and experience of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and handles investigations such as of terrorism, child pornography, fraud, trade secret and intellectual property theft, and financial, property, cyber, and violent crimes. The duties of RCFL personnel includes seizing and collecting digital evidence at a crime scene, conducting an impartial examination of submitted computer evidence, and testifying as required.
• The Buffalo InfraGard Chapter is the local arm a national information-sharing alliance between private industry, academia, and government focused on protecting critical national infrastructures in both the online and offline worlds.

• Buffalo’s Safe Streets Task Force—composed of local, state, and federal agencies—shares expertise and resources and uses a proactive, multi-agency coordinated approach to target, disrupt, and dismantle criminal enterprises such as violent street gangs.