WiWATCH
Skip to Content
Main Content

WiWATCH Wisconsin Fusion Centers

Governor Tony Evers General, Brig. Gen. David May

In July 2010, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a national "If You See Something, Say Something" public awareness campaign –a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and violent crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper state and local law enforcement authorities.

To augment the national “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Fusion Centers have instituted WiWATCH to provide a portal to educate the public and provide a means to report suspicious activity.

A critical element of the missions of the Wisconsin Fusion Centers is ensuring that the civil rights and civil liberties of persons are not diminished by our security efforts, activities, and programs. Consequently, the "WiWATCH" campaign respects civil rights and liberties by emphasizing behavior, rather than appearance, in identifying suspicious activity.

WiWatch poster

Download the Poster

Contact Us
By Phone

1-877-WIWATCH
(1-877-949-2824)

Contact Us
By Email

[email protected]

What Is Suspicious Behavior Or Activity?

Suspicious Behaviors and Activities That Should Be Reported Include:

Open AllClose All
  ELICITING INFORMATION

Questioning individuals at a level beyond mere curiosity about particular facets of a facility’s or building’s purpose, operations, security procedures, etc., that would arouse suspicion in a reasonable person.

  TESTING OF SECURITY

Interactions with or challenges to installations, personnel, or systems that reveal physical personnel or cybersecurity capabilities.

  RECRUITING

Building operations teams and contacts, personnel data, banking data, or travel data.

  PHOTOGRAPHY

Taking pictures or video of facilities, buildings, or infrastructure in a manner that would arouse suspicion in a reasonable person. Examples include taking pictures or video of infrequently used access points, personnel performing security functions (patrols, badge/vehicle checking), security-related equipment (perimeter fencing, security cameras), etc. All reporting on photography should be done within the totality of the circumstances.

  OBSERVATION / SURVEILLANCE

Demonstrating unusual interest in facilities, buildings, or infrastructure beyond mere casual or professional (e.g., engineers) interest such that a reasonable person would consider the activity suspicious. Examples include observation through binoculars, taking notes, attempting to measure distances, etc.

  MATERIALS ACQUISITION / STORAGE

Acquisition of unusual quantities of precursor materials, such as cell phones, pagers, fuel, and timers, such that a reasonable person would suspect possible criminal activity.

  AQUISITION OF EXPERTISE

Attempts to obtain or conduct training in security concepts (military weapons or tactics) or other unusual capabilities that would arouse suspicion in a reasonable person.

  WEAPONS DISCOVERY

Discovery of unusual amounts of weapons or explosives that would arouse suspicion in a reasonable person.

Open AllClose All
  SECTOR SPECIFIC INCIDENT

Actions associated with a characteristic of unique concern to specific sectors (such as the public health sector) with regard to their personnel, facilities, systems, or functions.

  BREACH / ATTEMPTED INTRUSION

Unauthorized personnel attempting to enter or actually entering a restricted area or protected site. Impersonation of authorized personnel (e.g., police/security, janitor).

  MISREPRESENTATION

Presenting false or misusing insignia, documents, and/or identification to misrepresent one’s affiliation to cover possible illicit activity.

  THEFT / LOSS / DIVERSION

Stealing or diverting something associated with a facility/infrastructure (e.g., badges, uniforms, identification, emergency vehicles, technology, or documents [classified or unclassified] that are proprietary to the facility).

  SABOTAGE / TAMPERING / VANDALISM

Damaging, manipulating, or defacing part of a facility/infrastructure or protected site.

  CYBERATTACK

Compromising or attempting to compromise or disrupt an organization’s information technology infrastructure.

  EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED THREAT

Communicating a spoken or written threat to damage or compromise a facility/infrastructure.

  AVIATION ACTIVITY

Operation of an aircraft in a manner that reasonably may be interpreted as suspicious or posing a threat to people or property. May or may not be in violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.

The Wisconsin Fusion Centers

STAC | Southeastern WI Threat Analysis Center

WSIC | Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center

STAC | Southeastern WI Threat Analysis Center

The STAC is one of 80 fusion centers recognized by the United States Department of Homeland Security; STAC is collocated with the Milwaukee Police Department’s Intelligence Fusion Center. STAC provides a platform for collaboration among multiple federal, state, local and tribal agencies and disciplines to exchange information and intelligence, with the goal to improve the ability to detect, prevent, deter, and respond to crime and terrorism by analyzing data from various sources. STAC is organized into three component Sections.

A fusion center is an effective and efficient mechanism to exchange information and intelligence, maximize resources, streamline operations, and improve the ability to fight crime and terrorism by analyzing data from a variety of sources. In addition, fusion centers are a conduit for implementing portions of the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan. Among the primary focuses of fusion centers are the intelligence and fusion processes, through which information is collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and disseminated. Nontraditional collectors of intelligence, such as public safety entities and private sector organizations, possess important information that can be “fused” with law enforcement data to provide meaningful information and intelligence about threats and criminal activity.

The ultimate goal of the fusion center is to provide a mechanism through which government, law enforcement, public safety, and the private sector can come together with a common purpose and improve the ability to safeguard our homeland and prevent criminal activity. Fusion centers embody the core of collaboration, and as demands increase and resources decrease, fusion centers will become an effective tool to maximize available resources and build trusted relationships.

Threat Analysis

The Threat Analysis Section provides members of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement agencies, and our other law enforcement partners with intelligence regarding critical incidents and significant public safety events in a real time format. The Threat Analysis Section is comprised of the following:

  • STAC Watch Desk
  • Suspicious Activity Reports
  • Cyber Security Intelligence
  • Health Security Intelligence
  • Intelligence Analysis

Infrastructure Protection

Infrastructure Protection tracks critical infrastructure and conducts Threat and Vulnerability Assessments on identified critical infrastructure in Wisconsin. The mission of this unit supports the State Homeland Security Strategy with assessments conducted by Unit personnel and Threat Liaison Officers. The staff and TLOs also complete Buffer Zone Protection (BZP) assessments, and Special Event Threat Assessments. The Infrastructure Protection Section is comprised of the following:

  • Fire Service Intelligence
  • Critical Asset Assessment Team
  • Special Event Security
  • Field Intelligence Unit

Training & Outreach

Training and Outreach is tasked with recruiting and training personnel from law enforcement agencies, fire services, public safety, private sector security, the military and other relevant disciplines who become Fusion Liaison Officers (FLOs) in support of the STAC mission. The Training & Outreach Section is comprised of the following:

  • Fusion Liaison Officer Program
  • Preparedness Exercise Program
  • National SAR Initiative Training
  • Special Security Briefing Program

Lt. Steven Stelter - Director, 749 W. State Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, [email protected], (414) 935-7741

Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC)

WHAT IS A FUSION CENTER?

A fusion center is a collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and information to the center with the goal of maximizing their ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. Intelligence processes – through which information is collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and disseminated – are a primary focus.

NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR FUSION CENTERS

In 2006, the President approved the establishment of a national integrated network of state and major urban area information fusion centers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI have deployed personnel to work within fusion centers

ROLE OF FUSION CENTERS

State and regional fusion centers enable local, state and tribal governments to gather, process, analyze and share information and intelligence relating to all crimes and all hazards. Fusion centers communicate, cooperate, and coordinate with each other and with the federal government. These centers:

  • Contribute information to ongoing federal and national-level terrorist risk assessments and complete statewide, regional or site-specific and topical risk assessments.
  • Disseminate federally generated alerts, warning and notifications regarding time-sensitive threats, situational awareness reports, and analytical products.
  • Produce or interpret intelligence products relevant to stakeholders
  • Gather, process, analyze and disseminate locally generated information such as Suspicious Activity Reports.
  • Protect civil liberties and privacy interests of American citizens throughout the intelligence process.

WSIC | Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center

The Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center (WSIC), operated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation, is one of two fusion centers in Wisconsin. WSIC serves as the primary focal point for threat information sharing among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, emergency management, fire service, public health, corrections, military and private sector partners for the state.

WSIC works in close partnership with the Southeastern Wisconsin Threat Analysis Center (STAC). The STAC is the urban area fusion center that serves the eight counties of Milwaukee, Racine, Washington, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Kenosha, Walworth and Jefferson. The WSIC serves all other portions of the state.

In order to deter, prevent and mitigate criminal or terrorist threats while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. citizens, WSIC accomplishes the following mission essential tasks:

  • Provides major case support to law enforcement
  • Gathers, receives, analyzes and disseminates intelligence at the national, state and local levels
  • Performs critical services for government and private sector partners
    • The Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults
    • The AMBER Alert Program
    • The Wisconsin Crime Alert Network
  • Provides Training and Outreach
    • Threat Liaison Officer and Fusion Liaison Officer Programs
    • Continuing education for government and private sector partners
  • Protect civil liberties and privacy interests of American citizens throughout the intelligence process.

Scott Faralli - Director, 17 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707, [email protected]

Outside Southeastern WI, you may also report suspicious activity online at WiFusion.WiDOJ.Gov, (608) 242-5393 or (888) DCI-WSIC

Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties

WSIC is committed to the deterrence, prevention, and mitigation of criminal and terrorist threats to the homeland, while protecting the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties of U.S. Citizens. The United States Constitution, among other things, guarantees the freedoms of speech, press, religion, and assembly, as well as rights to privacy, due process, and the equal protection of the laws. WSIC takes these rights very seriously and has instituted a Privacy Policy to ensure the responsible and legal compilation and use of criminal intelligence information. This Privacy Policy is an integral part of WSIC’s mission to gather, process, analyze and share information of crimes and hazards threatening the people and facilities of the State of Wisconsin and the United States.

Privacy Policy

Resources

top