by Mitch Stacy, Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - FBI Director Robert Mueller vowed Monday to improve relations with state and local law enforcement as his agency shifts its principal focus to preventing terrorist attacks.
Mueller, speaking at the annual conference of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, noted he has created new top-level positions charged with improving communication and appointed an advisory group of state and local law enforcement.
“The events of Sept. 11 have made it clear that the FBI has to do a better job in developing these partnerships,” Mueller said. “Our communication should at least be as fast as CNN or television news, but often it is not.”
Besides faulty communication, lawmakers scrutinizing intelligence failures leading up to the attacks found problems ranging from outdated FBI computer systems to inadequate monitoring of potential terrorists.
As House and Senate intelligence committees examine how to correct the shortcomings, Mueller said he has proposed transferring 450 agents - about 4 percent of the agency’s manpower - to counterterrorism.
About 400 will come from narcotics units, with others from violent crimes, white-collar crime, bank robbery and other areas. Mueller said local police can expect to see fewer agents helping them fight those crimes if Congress approves his reorganization.
During a press conference before his speech, Mueller said the FBI also must improve its technology and its ability to analyze intelligence. That effort has included borrowing 25 intelligence analysts from the CIA, he said.
Leonard Cooke, national president of the organization, lauded Mueller for his efforts to reach out to local officers. About 2,000 people are attending the weeklong conference.
Mueller, appointed by President Bush, took the helm of the FBI a week before the Sept. 11 attacks.