Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center, Employees Receive National Awards

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania State Police has announced that the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC) received the National Network of Fusion Centers 2015 Fusion Center of the Year Award last week in Alexandria, Va.  In addition, two employees received individual awards for The Michael Schooler Critical Infrastructure Protection Award and the Excellence in the Field of Fusion Center Outreach Award.

"The fusion center staff has worked exceptionally hard to develop this center over the years and with precise proficiencies within that center to the point of receiving such prominent awards for both PaCIC and individual performance," said Acting Commissioner Tyree C. Blocker.  "I couldn't be more proud of the people who give their all and now they have been recognized for their countless contributions."

PaCIC is managed by the Pennsylvania State Police and is Pennsylvania's primary designated all-hazards fusion center comprised of analysts and subject matter experts from local, state, and federal agencies. The fusion center has been operational 24/7 since July 2003.

The Fusion Center of the Year Award recognizes centers that have provided exceptional services to their jurisdictions and exhibit outstanding best practices.

• Derek Ruhl, Emergency and Safety Coordinator, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, received The Michael Schooler Critical Infrastructure Protection Award.  Recipients of this award have provided exceptional services to their fusion center. These particular services have enhanced critical infrastructure protection related programs, and improved the security posture of the jurisdiction and/or the nation.  Mr. Ruhl is the Department of Agriculture representative in PaCIC.
• Maggie Baker, Intelligence Analyst, Pennsylvania State Police, received the Excellence in the Field of Fusion Center Outreach Award. Ms. Baker works in the Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources protection unit within PaCIC.  Recipients of this award have provided exceptional services to their fusion center. These services or activities have enhanced outreach and liaison programs or efforts and improved the security posture of the jurisdiction and/or the nation.

Pennsylvania's fusion center provides intelligence and informational products to over 1,200 municipal, state, and federal criminal justice agencies and engages over 5,300 private and public sector partners in matters of critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR). Recent CIKR initiatives include expanding cyber threat analysis to share with sector-specific partners and preparing for outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) by working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

PaCIC assists with criminal investigations regarding terrorism, homicides, drug trafficking and interdiction, fraud, corruption, human trafficking and many other offenses. Threat assessments recently produced include the 2015 Little League World Series and the 2015 World Meeting of Families Papal Visit.

PaCIC also produces public-facing documents such as Community Awareness Bulletins that highlight threats and scams meant to target Pennsylvanians and provide methods to reduce or eliminate such hazards. 

The center has been nationally recognized for its training and compliance with issues of privacy, civil rights and civil liberties and has received a perfect score on its annual Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Assessment for the last three years.

Additionally, PaCIC had the distinction of being the only fusion center in the nation to receive three awards at the ceremony.  

For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit their website at www.psp.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Maria A. Finn or Tpr. Adam Reed, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

Related Links

http://www.psp.pa.gov