Editorial: More info, not less, required

Monday, Aug. 1, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Police chiefs around the nation have been frustrated by the reluctance of federal officials to share timely information about potential terrorist threats. In response, as The New York Times reported Friday, police chiefs from the Las Vegas, Chicago and Washington metropolitan areas are creating an informal network connecting 10 to 15 cities so that they can rapidly share information and data regarding terrorist threats and actions.

Ultimately, the Times reports, the police chiefs also want to hook up with police forces in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, enabling them to directly receive information without having to wait for the cumbersome and time-consuming filtering of information undertaken by U.S. intelligence agencies. Police chiefs also note that they often get information about potential terrorism threats from CNN and other news organizations several hours before receiving official word from the FBI and the Homeland Security Department.

The Homeland Security Department official in charge of coordinating information with local police agencies says that the department already provides timely information once it has been vetted for accuracy. Joshua Filler of the Homeland Security Department said it appears that what the police chiefs want is raw information in real time. "If that's something they feel they need and want, we're willing to sit down and figure out how they can receive that information, but with the understanding that it's unfinished and it's subject to change," Filler said. Clark County Sheriff Bill Young says that is precisely the kind of information he needs.

"I'll decide how to use that information," Young said. "I'm not going to wait for channeled information or information passed through intelligence networks. We have no other business here than the tourism business. One little blip and we're done in Las Vegas." We're glad to see the police chiefs take the initiative in setting up an information-sharing network. Federal officials, for that matter, should have already been providing raw information to local police chiefs to better enable them to prepare for, and make decisions about, potential terrorist threats. The more information the better.