Protecting Communities, Preventing Crime

For a small team like the Fusion Center, protecting the agency as a team and preventing crime can be a rewarding experience.

The Fusion Center serves as the agency’s intelligence hub, collecting and analyzing information from multiple sources to identify threats, trends, and criminal activity that could impact operations statewide. With real-time puzzle piecing, they have a unique role in communicating this intel, which can lead them to solving criminal investigations. The goal of the hub is to ensure the intelligence information is constantly up to date between law enforcement and the agency during investigations.

Director Terry Andrews leads the Fusion Center’s operations, overseeing analysts and investigators who turn raw data into actionable intelligence every day.

“We all get up in the morning, we’re ready to be here and ready to go and do the things we do,” Andrews said.

After starting as a correctional officer, Andrews moved up the ranks and landed in the investigative side of corrections. He has built strong partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, making sure information gets to the right place. His role requires a keen eye to detail and active problem solving which comes with both challenges and rewards.

One of the agency’s largest problems is keeping contraband out of prisons.

“We work as a team to fight the introduction of contraband,” Andrews said.

Each person within the Fusion Center works together to prevent contraband from ever entering the facility. Andrews and his team collaborate with their counterparts to aid in this effort.

“One side never has all the pieces of the puzzle. Our team gives their specific talents, and I let them work within their talents, then they come together with a group to build the entire picture. They do that all the time, and I’m consistently amazed,” Andrews said.

The Fusion Center is composed of data analysts, Correctional Intelligence Management Office (CIMO) staff, which includes several administrative assistants, managers, criminal analysts, strike force investigators, and Texas Anti-Gang Information Tracking system program supervisors. These positions are built on teamwork while also maintaining employee independence.

Although these positions have vastly different responsibilities, they all have a few characteristics that benefit the team as a whole. Many of the traits they have are good communication, attention to detail, and a sense of curiosity.

“It’s about 80% communication and 20% investigation,” Andrews said. Their constant updates and communication not only keep the team informed but those they work alongside. “We work with every division on a regular basis,” Andrews explained.

“We have weekly catch-up meetings to see what everyone is doing, and we have a team-based approach to make sure the information we have is not overlapping,” Andrews said.

Forensic accountants take a closer look into finding the details. Whether it’s sorting through documents or tracking money trails, forensic accountant Heather Turner‘s role is crucial in finding the root of it all. She was given an opportunity to contribute to a greater mission. She said, “My goal is to make it a healthy, clean environment for both staff and inmates.” She’s doing just that alongside her team. Together, they are making strides towards a safer community and preventing crimes along the way.