International Journal on Criminology Volume 4, Number 2, Winter 2016 | Page 21

Answering the Terrorism Challenge
contribution of the NYPD Intelligence Division, its special skills, and its unmatched
talent base.
-----The early claims that the NYPD Intelligence Division was overeager
or amateurish, by the end of the KellyAdministration, gave way to far more
than a grudging respect and an eagerness to identify opportunities to team
up.
-----Close partnerships were also developed with U.S. prosecutors as
far afield as the Eastern District of Virginia, which successfully prosecuted
Intelligence Division cases others would not.
Throughout the period, the Intelligence Division was able to detail highly
qualified personnel to various U.S. Government agencies both in the New York City
area and in Washington, DC. In all cases, it is clear that these agencies welcomed the
information and quality of personnel the Division was able to offer. Of greatest value
to these Agencies was the “view from the ground” regarding what was important
that NYPD analysts and investigators were concerned about or able to provide.
Much has been made in the media of the NYPD–CIA relationship; most of it
myth, implying a sinister purpose was at play. The reality was quite the contrary. As
a CIA Inspector General report stated publicly following a 6-month review:
-----1] The CIA–NYPD relationship was consistent with the 1947
National Security Act;
----- 2] The CIA–NYPD relationship was consistent with Executive
Order 12333;
-----3] The CIA–NYPD relationship had been approved at the highest
level of both organizations;
-----4] During the course of that relationship and, following a 6-month
review by the CIA Inspector General, no improprieties by either CIA or
NYPD personnel had
occurred.
These findings notwithstanding, in 2012, about ten years after the al-Qaeda
attacks on New York City, the relationship was terminated by the CIA. The Director
of National Intelligence stated at the time that “it is not a good optic to have CIA
involved in any city-level police department”.
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