STATEWIDE
TERRORISM ANALYSIS
& CRIME CENTER
STACC About
EMA Watch Office
Explosive Detecting K9 Program
Ohio Homeland Security partnered with seven state universities to add explosive-detection canines to their police departments. Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Toledo, and Youngstown State University each added a canine in an effort to increase safety on campus and in surrounding communities.
In addition, OHS also has an explosive-detection canine team. Chloe, a female German Shepherd, and her handler, Mike Palumbo, a retired Army major and former Union County Sheriff's deputy, with 9 years previous experience as a canine handler, are a valuable resource that can be called upon by law enforcement agencies for assistance anywhere in the state.
This network of explosive-detection canines adds another layer of safety to our universities and their surrounding communities, while also serving as a deterrent to those who intend to harm our citizens.
Infrastructure Protection Unit
Ohio Homeland Security's Infrastructure Protection (IP) Unit protects critical infrastructure, key resources, and assets by sharing information, conducting assessments, and identifying vulnerabilities and consequences. The IP Unit helps create a safer Ohio by providing threat and vulnerability assessments and by deploying SkyWatch™ Towers at the request of local law enforcement.
Threat and Vulnerability Assessment
Security assessments concerning threats, vulnerability, and risk are provided at no charge to public- and private-sector partners in Ohio. Assessments offer guidance regarding the safety of a facility's physical assets and operational procedures.
What is provided?
IP Unit assessors will review emergency plans and procedures with your management, look at facility threat and vulnerability assessment history, and identify potential mass casualty areas.
- Security Program Management
- Perimeter Barriers
- Building Barriers
- Intrusion Detection
- Surveillance Equipment
- Access Controls
- Security Force
- Utility Services
After the assessment, you will be provided a Summary of Findings and an optional Out Brief presentation. All assessments include commendable actions and remedial options for consideration.
Skywatch™ Tower
The SkyWatch™ Tower is a 30-foot-tall mobile, observational structure equipped to provide additional security and situational awareness to special events with crowds over 5,000 people. With four fully-functional pan, tilt, and zoom cameras, the SkyWatch™ Tower provides 360-degree security awareness at no cost to law enforcement agencies in Ohio, dependent on availability.
The SkyWatch™ Tower adds an additional level of security to an event with only a 15' x 30' footprint. The climate-controlled structure remains functional in hot and cold weather and is able to be self-powered by a generator or plugged into a local power source to ensure continuous surveillance. Operated mainly by OHS IP Unit staff, the SkyWatch™ Tower only requires one local law enforcement officer assigned to monitor the structure.
What is provided?
- The 30-foot-tall SkyWatch™ Tower structure
- Four pan, tilt, and zoom cameras with wired and wireless connection options for remote viewing
- Transportation and set-up of the tower
- Trained OHS IP Unit staff member to help with monitoring and operating the tower
- Ability to monitor for multiple days depending on availability
Intelligence Liaison Officer (ILO) Program
In 2008, Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) began a statewide Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) Program with the goal of increasing local, statewide and regional intelligence collaboration by building relationships on a grass-roots level with local representatives, as well as to foster timely reporting of information to the Ohio Fusion Center Network (OFCN) for the purpose of analysis, sharing, and dissemination of intelligence.
In 2015, the TLO program expanded beyond just terrorism and was retitled the Intelligence Liaison Officer (ILO) Program. However, the program change is not simply a name change, but a new focus to include an "all crimes related to infrastructure protection" initiative. The initial phase of the expansion focused on local law enforcement, local fire and emergency medical service (EMS) departments as well as corrections. The following disciplines have also been added to expand the ILO network; emergency management, public health, US military & National Guard, education, adult parole authority, state & local government agencies, and select private sector businesses. The inclusion of these disciplines is expected to increase information sharing as well as grow the statewide network of available multi-discipline personnel.
The ILO Program provides local agencies and first responders an increased intelligence competency. Agencies may enhance their street-level intelligence collection by having trained ILOs with the ability to recognize threat indicators and report suspicious activity through their agency to the OFCN.
For additional information please contact the Ohio Homeland Security ILO Program Office at ILO@dps.ohio.gov or (614) 644-3895.
Ohio Public Private Partnership (OP3)
OHS Terrorism Analysis Unit
In coordination with the Ohio Fusion Center Network, Ohio Homeland Security's Terrorism Analysis Unit (TAU) analyzes information to create intelligence products to distribute a comprehensive and neutral homeland security perspective. TAU routes appropriate products and information to federal, state, local, and private-sector partners. The unit:
- Serves as a catalyst and facilitator for effective exchange of information
- Operates and responds to the Suspicious Activity tip-line, 877-OHS-INTEL (647-4683)
- Monitors emerging trends and technologies to develop and relay reports, bulletins, advisories, and alerts
- Monitors and reports on situational awareness of terrorism related incidents
- Disseminates terrorism-related information
OSHP Computer Crimes Unit
The Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) provides training and support for the investigation of crimes involving computers or other digital devices. Investigators conduct forensic examinations of submitted evidence and occasionally conduct direct investigations of crimes involving computers or state databases.
SAIC brochureOSHP Intelligence Unit
The Intelligence Unit provides 24/7 support to internal and external customers with real-time crash, case, and traffic stop assistance, as well as long-term, larger-scale case support. Services are free to any inquiring law enforcement agency.
Real-time Assistance
- Phone number searches
- Traffic stop support
- Nationwide photo ID requests
- Social media searches and real-time monitoring
- Cell Phone pings
- Record searches
- Border crossing, immigration and prior drug case queries
Case Support
- Link charts
- Phone toll analysis
- Financial analysis
- Timelines
- Suspect identification
- Ohio RX history
- Business reports
Products
- Bulletins: BOLO, Awareness, Officer Safety, Request for Information, Wanted, Drug Tips
- Event assessment and planning
- Statistical analysis
- Predictive crime analysis and mapping
- Pre-detail intelligence (Shield Details, warrant sweeps, etc.)
- Training and educational products
OSHP Watch Desk
The 24-hour command center serves as a central point for coordinating statewide law enforcement efforts during critical incidents and serves as the ESF-13 Law Enforcement support functions of the State Emergency Operations Center, when activated. As a central collection point, the Watch Center can disseminate information to all statewide and federal partners to multiply your agency's efforts. The Watch Center offers law enforcement agencies a direct link to Ohio State Highway Patrol resources to assist your agency free of charge:
- Aviation
- Special Response Team
- Hostage negotiators
- Crash reconstruction
- Human trafficking investigators
- Drug recognition experts
- Member Assistance Team / Ohio ASSIST Services
- Law Enforcement Photographic Services
- AMBER / Blue Alert Activation
Partners
Ohio Fusion Center Network
The Ohio Fusion Center Network is comprised of three federally recognized fusion centers; the Statewide Terrorism Analysis & Crime Center (STACC), the state's primary fusion center, the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center (NEORFC) and the Greater Cincinnati Fusion Center (GCFC). Each of these are part of the National Network of Fusion Centers, which is made up of 79 fusion centers across the United States.
Scrap Metal Program
Threat Assessment & Prevention Unit
Threat Assessment and Prevention (TAP) Unit analysts, working with Ohio Homeland Security and the Ohio Department of Education, are trained in school and workplace violence threat assessment. They are available to answer questions, receive suspicious activity reporting, and field tips regarding school and workplace violence. TAP analysts also monitor the Safer Schools Ohio Tip Line for school-related threats.The following should be reported to the TAP Unit through the Safer Schools Tip Line:
- Bullying incidents (perpetrators and victims)
- Withdrawn student behaviors
- Verbal or written threats observed toward students, faculty or school
- Weapon/suspicious devices on or near school grounds
- Gang-related activities
- Unusual/suspicious behavior of students or associates
To report an incident to the TAP Unit call or text 844-SAFEROH
For more information on the Safer Schools Program visit the website at saferschools.ohio.gov.
