On September 10, 2010, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered a counterterrorism policy speech in the City’s Emergency Operations Center at OEM’s Headquarters in downtown Brooklyn. Secretary Napolitano spoke before a crowd of first responders and OEM staff, as well as top administration officials, including the OEM, Police and Fire commissioners. Her speech touched on a broad spectrum of national security issues such as countering violent extremism and encouraging the public to remain vigilant through a national “If You See Something, Say Something” advertising campaign.

One of the highlights of Secretary Napolitano’s speech was her comments about intelligence “fusion centers.” The first fusion center was created in 2006 to encourage effective and timely information sharing among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. According to Secretary Napolitano, by the end of this year, more than 72 fusion centers around the country will be sharing intelligence information enabling law enforcement agencies to better analyze data and spot trends of suspicious activity.  

“Indeed, in the Zazi plot to bomb the New York subway, it was a fusion center near Denver that played a key role in fusing information that came from the public with evidence that came in following the suspect’s arrest by the FBI,” said Secretary Napolitano.

After her visit to OEM, Secretary Napolitano was treated to a traditional FDNY dinner at a firehouse in Midtown Manhattan. The following day she joined Commissioner Bruno and other City and state officials to pay her respects at the City’s September 11th memorial ceremony in Zuccotti Park.