Original Article Changing FBI priorities burden local police By Kristina Davis, Tribune November 7, 2005 Valley police are seeing increased caseloads especially bank robberies, drug trafficking and fraud that they often dont have the resources to fully investigate, according to a new federal report. The reason: Since Sept. 11, 2001, the FBI which normally takes on most of these cases has shifted its priorities to terrorism. Nationally, the FBI is investigating only half as many crimes as it did before the attacks. And while police and other federal agencies have been able to take up some of the slack, many crimes are going unaddressed, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report. In the FBIs Phoenix division, drug squads in the state were reduced from four to two after 2001, and a telemarketing fraud task force was disbanded. At the same time, counterterrorism squads in the division have increased twofold. "There are a lot of things we are still heavily involved in on the criminal side. However, weve become more involved on the intelligence side . . . to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks, and its obviously pulled some of our resources," said agent Deborah McCarley, spokeswoman for the FBIs Phoenix Division. THE CUTBACKS One of the most noticeable changes to the Arizona Department of Public Safety was the FBIs cutback on drug investigations. "They were a fairly robust partner in the number of drug initiatives. Now theyve pulled out," said DPS Maj. Norm Beasley, commander of the intelligence bureau. "They looked at those things that state or local or other federal entities could also investigate. We havent totally filled the void. Weve adapted to that void." Phoenix agents investigating drug matters were reduced from 56 to 15 since the attacks, causing drug crime in their jurisdiction to be significantly underaddressed by the FBI, local FBI officials said in the report. "We still work closely with them as it relates to major drug trafficking organizations," Beasley said, "but their level of involvement is somewhat degraded." White-collar crime investigations in Phoenix plummeted 66 percent between 2000 and 2004, the report states. "Clearly, the FBI pulling out of those areas has created a void in all enforcement efforts because we dont as a state agency have the assets to devote to very much whitecollar and economic crimes, which are a significant problem," Beasley said. "With national scams, scams over the Internet or telephone, in many cases the perpetrators are not Arizona based." Police officers and FBI officials across the country agreed, saying in the report that no other law enforcement agency has been able to compensate entirely for the FBIs reduced efforts in these areas. Overall, though, the officers interviewed nationwide said the effects of the FBIs reprioritization were minimal. "In some areas, weve had to raise the threshold," said Special Agent in Charge Jana Monroe, who has headed the FBIs Phoenix division since December. "We wouldnt necessarily investigate a case we would have previously because it doesnt meet the investigative threshold." Before Sept. 11, the FBI would send an agent to every bank robbery. Now that happens only if it is violent or part of a crime spree that spreads across state lines. "Certainly from what Ive noticed, our requests to get federal assistance get scrutinized and prioritized differently than they were before," said Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark. "It changes the way we do business a little bit. But it doesnt hinder us. If (the investigation) is large enough to need federal resources, were usually able to get them." ENHANCED INTELLIGENCE When FBI field offices were directed in 2001 to ensure that no terrorism-related matter went unaddressed, that meant local and state police needed to get on board as well. "Where we lost (FBI) involvement in one area, we gained significantly in the area of counterterrorism," Beasley said. "The FBI has reached out to local agencies more to work more cooperatively since 9/11," Clark added. "More agencies are involved in the FBIs joint terrorism task force." Regular meetings of officers, police chiefs with topsecret clearance and FBI agents keep the flow of intelligence steady. "Today, theres strength in numbers and with partnering. They have information of value to us and vice versa," said the Phoenix FBI leader. Arizonas counterterrorism effort is doubled by the Arizona Counterterrorism Information Center, which includes 36 agencies. A true picture of the successes of counterterrorism and counterintelligence work is hard to come by when comparing it with criminal investigations, Monroe said. "Its apples and oranges, truly," she said. "We might have one large terrorism case important to the whole country and 59 bank robberies. (Counterterrorism cases are) about the protection of a nation and prevention. How do you measure that in tangible numbers?" Beasley said it all boils down to shifting priorities for all law enforcement. "Every agency has to take a hard look at those things they do now," he said, "and establish certain priorities of what presents the greatest threat to the citizens they serve." Contact Kristina Davis by email, or phone (480)-898-6446