The Importance of Cooperation

Our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels are the backbone of our nation’s domestic defense against terrorist attacks. They are this country’s eyes and ears on the ground, and the first line of detection and prevention. They are a vital partner in ensuring public safety, in every American community.

To support these partners and carry out our missions, almost 90 percent of DHS employees are stationed outside Washington, D.C., in communities across the country.

Building Partnerships

Homeland security begins with hometown security. As part of its commitment to hometown security, DHS has worked to get tools, information, and resources out of Washington, D.C. and into the hands of our federal, state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement partners.

It is vital that DHS law enforcement partners have a clear understanding of the tactics, behaviors, and other indicators that could point to terrorist activity. The Department works to:

• Improve how it communicates and shares information
• Enhance the kind of federal resources and support it provides through grants, training, and other means
• Strengthen its analytic capabilities to achieve better awareness of new and emerging threats

Partnership Successes

DHS has made progress in improving its domestic capabilities to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against America’s people, communities, and critical infrastructure.

We have brought resources and expertise to our law enforcement partners and built new mechanisms to share information. This includes investments in training for local law enforcement and first responders of all types in order to increase expertise and capacity at the local level.