1/31/21, 12:28 PM
SILENT (SP) EYES OF SALEM
Does the State of Oregon conduct formalized intelligence activities on its citizens?
Oregon serves as one of many criminal intelligence centers throughout America. Salem Oregon is the home of our particular intelligence center more appropriately referred to as the “TITAN FUSION CENTER.”
Oregon Titan Fusion Center’s (OTFC) website mission statement states: “OTFC mission is to protect Oregon citizens from TERRORISTS (emphasis added) and criminal activity by providing an all-crimes criminal information clearinghouse supported by multiple agencies a Fusion Liaison Officer (FLO) program.”
According to Titan’s website, “Data fusion involves the exchange of information from different sources-including law enforcement, public safety, health care and the private sector…” It goes on to explain that the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI began deploying personnel to work within the fusion centers” in 2006.
Titan’s website has a “TIP or LEAD” Form titled: “Private/Public Sector Tip or Lead” that requires the tipster to provide their name along with a description of their information.
The Department of Homeland Security describes fusion centers role as follows: “Information sharing hubs that provide comprehensive and appropriate access, analysis, and dissemination that no other single partner can offer.”
Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported in an April 2016 story: “The Fusion Center has access to an array of criminal and law enforcement records including criminal histories, suspicious activity reports and case records from federal, local and state agencies. They can research individuals, locations or organizations based on ‘reasonable suspicion.’ The center may follow-up on tips and reports that come from individuals as well as other law enforcement agencies.”
Public oversight is limited and these fusion centers operate from the shadows. Their methods and operational abilities follow strict secrecy standards that have called into question the potential for serious Civil Rights Abuses.
OPB’s story further stated, “The Oregon center is not allowed to seek out information about an individual on the basis of religious, political, racial or views, per state law. They’re also not supposed to investigate people based on their participation in a particular non-criminal organization or event.”
Hmmm?
Ranch Matters understands the need for active intelligence involving real threats against the public and law enforcements role ensuring the public is safe. However, safeguards need to be in place for the protection of everyone’s Civil Rights, not just a few.
Since the inauguration on January 20th, news reports are replete with Warning and Bulletins specifically related to Trump supporters as “domestic terrorist.” Could ones beliefs (political, religious…) or unpopular opinions land you in a fusion center data base?
The current Washington elites have gone out of their way to demonize and criminalize anyone that opposes their agenda. Free speech and expression be dammed in the name of the elites idea of National Security.
A couple of days ago, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a “National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin.” The Bulletin states: “…due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration. Information suggests that some ideological- motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances filed by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.”
The current political climate (Nationally & Locally) is littered with confusion and fear mainly fueled by the events of January 6th. Biden and his Administration have gone out of their way to paint a target on the backs of Trump Supporters/Voters and Conservatives to name a few.
CLOSER TO HOME
Prior to the above mentioned Bulletin, we reached out to Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins and asked him if he has a deputy assigned to the Titan’s “FLO PROGRAM” and he said yes. He explained how typically the liaison activity relates to major crimes with the emphasis on drug trafficking. However, Adkins acknowledged how volatile and fluid the current political climate is and how information gathering/dissemination for the wrong reasons is a potential problem.
