Resolution 2004-1

WHEREAS, the September 11th Commission Report identified information sharing among law enforcement at all levels as a paramount national priority for public safety and homeland security

WHEREAS, the September 11th Commission Report makes several strong recommendations to achieve data sharing among law enforcement at all levels

WHEREAS, the United States Senate recently passed historic legislation to fully implement the recommendations of the September 11th Commission. The United States House of Representatives has also passed the information sharing component of the recommendations of the September 11th Commission Report.

WHEREAS, Title II of the "9/11 Commission Report Implementation Act of 2004" describes the new national strategy for information sharing. Title II of this legislation summarizes the new national data sharing strategy as, "The current 'need to know' culture of information protection needs to be replaced with a 'need to share' culture of integration."

WHEREAS, , a strong and successful partnership between Florida's Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Public Safety Technology Center at the University of Central Florida, and state and local government has created and maintains a statewide data sharing system.

WHEREAS, Florida's data sharing system is an exact model of the new national strategy articulated by the September 11th Commission and adopted by the United States Senate and House.

WHEREAS, Florida's data sharing network is highly effective and fully functional. This system is solving crimes, apprehending criminals, and strengthening homeland security now.

WHEREAS, the Florida network successfully incorporates all key elements of the new national strategy for data sharing:

* All agencies retain control over their agency records - it is a decentralized and distributed system

* It operates on CJ Net provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. CJ Net is a secure network that protects agency records.

* It involves the lawful sharing of police records only; not public records. As a result, issues involving privacy and civil rights are not a problem

* Agencies from Miami to Orlando to Tampa to Jacksonville and through the Panhandle, have joined the Consortium and share data.

* The network has analytical tools and is developing advanced analytical capabilities.

* Florida's Chiefs and Sheriffs run the network. The Florida Law Enforcement Data Sharing Consortium is a public partnership between Florida Law Enforcement and the University of Central Florida

WHEREAS, the network has been endorsed by the state of Florida through stat funding from the Florida Legislature and Governor Bush

WHEREAS, the network has been endorsed by the Florida Sheriffs Association and many Florida Police Chiefs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED,that the Florida Police Chiefs Association endorses the Florida Law Enforcement Data Sharing Network.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that the Florida Police Chiefs Association strongly encourages all police departments in the state of Florida to join the Florida Law Enforcement Data Sharing Consortium.

PASSED AND ADOPTED THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2004 in Tallahassee, Florida, at a duly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors of the Florida Police Chiefs Associatio