FBI's JTTF - Joint Terrorism Task Force

The JTTF originated in New York City when the FBI and NYPD combined resources to work on a growing number of bank robberies plaguing the city in 1979. In 1980 there was an official formation of the FBI's JTTF. Now, according to an FBI source, there are JTTF investigative units in 100 cities across the United States. There are over 3,500 local, state and federal members. There are over 2,000 special agents and more than 800 state or local law enforcement officers. There are investigators, analysts, linguists, computer forensics specialists and investigators, and other specialists. These JTTF Units are all under the supervision of the Justice Department and the FBI.

After 9/11, the JTTF underwent a large expansion. The 9/11 commission criticized the CIA and FBI for "stove-piping" or keeping in-house the information they had on possible terrorist attack plans that may have been able to prevent the attacks on 9/11/2001. Whether or not this is true, nobody's is certain. Out of this came the expansion of JTTF units throughout the country that combine local, state, and federal resources to respond to and investigate terrorist activity.

Local and state law enforcement officers will often serve in the FBI's local offices alongside their FBI counterparts. Local and State officers will assess situations and determine how they will impact their department's resources and citizens of the state or city and will then relay that information to the department's commissioner, who will then discuss the information with the heads of government.