From Intelligence to Coordination: What Fusion Centers Need Next
By Jim Macedo, Chief Growth Officer | Sheriff, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office (ret.)
Earlier this spring we spent time with the fusion center community at the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) conference. It’s one of the few places where you have analysts, operators, and leadership all in the same room, people who are responsible for understanding what’s happening and people who are responsible for doing something about it.
That matters. Because the role of fusion centers is changing.
The Job Is Getting Bigger
Fusion centers have always been good at connecting information. Across jurisdictions. Across agencies. Across different types of data. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is what they’re being asked to support. More and more, the expectation is not just to produce intelligence, but to help guide what happens in real time.
That includes:
Supporting active investigations
Providing context during unfolding incidents
Helping multiple agencies stay aligned as things move
At the same time, the volume and variety of data keeps expanding. Open source. Tips. Case systems. ALPR. Drones and Drone as First Responder programs. Gunshot detection. CCTV footage. Connected vehicles.
None of that is slowing down.
Where Things Still Break Down
Even with all that progress, there’s still a gap that shows up when it matters most.
It’s the gap between what’s known and what’s happening. Fusion centers are very good at identifying patterns and building a clear picture. But once an operation starts or an incident is underway, coordination often shifts somewhere else. Different tools. Different channels. Different workflows.
That’s where things get harder than they should be.
Information doesn’t always move as fast as it needs to
Not everyone is working from the same understanding
Communication spreads across whatever tools are available at the time
None of that is a people problem. It’s a coordination problem.
The Shift That’s Already Underway
What stood out to me at NFCA is that this isn’t theoretical anymore. There’s a clear shift happening. Fusion centers are moving from being places that produce intelligence to places that help coordinate outcomes.
That changes how you think about the job.
Success isn’t just:
What was identified
What was written up
It’s also:
How quickly information got to the right people
Whether agencies were aligned when it mattered
Whether coordination actually held together under pressure
What That Requires
If fusion centers are going to play that role, the way teams operate has to evolve with it. It’s not about replacing existing systems. Those systems are critical. It’s about making sure they don’t operate in isolation when something is happening in real time.
In practical terms, that means:
A shared understanding of what’s happening as it unfolds
Communication that doesn’t rely on unsecured or disconnected channels
The ability to coordinate across agencies without having to piece it together manually
That’s the difference between having information and being able to use it.
Closing the Gap
From where I sit, the opportunity is pretty straightforward. Fusion centers already connect the dots better than anyone. The next step is making sure those dots stay connected when it counts. Not just in reports. Not just after the fact. But during the moments where decisions are being made and operations are moving.
That’s where outcomes change.
A Community That’s Moving Forward
One thing that hasn’t changed is the willingness of this community to work together. That’s always been the strength of fusion centers. What’s different now is the environment they’re operating in, and the expectations that come with it.
The tools, the workflows, and the way agencies coordinate all have to keep up. Because the mission hasn’t gotten easier.
If any of this reflects what you’re seeing in your own operations, it’s worth a conversation. I’m always interested in comparing notes with others working through the same challenges.
You can reach me directly at jmacedo@leosight.com.
