By David Brand
Law Enforcement Coordinator, Florida Sheriffs Association 

The Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC) is a relatively underused resource that is available to Florida law enforcement.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, it can provide a variety of tools to assist local and state law enforcement agencies with criminal investigations. The ROCIC covering Florida is one of the six entities within the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) program.

Sheriff Rick Staly has an ongoing partnership with the ROCIC

The RISS

The mission of the RISS is to assist local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice agencies by providing solutions and services that facilitate information sharing, support of criminal investigations, and promoting officer safety.

Six regional centers are available to respond to the unique crime problems of each region.

• Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC): Nashville, Tennessee
• Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN): Newtown, Pennsylvania
• Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC): Springfield, Missouri
• New England State Police Information Center (NESPIN): Franklin, Maine
• Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN): Phoenix, Arizona
• Western States Information Network (WSIN): Sacramento, California

Congress appropriates funds each year for the RISS. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice administers the program and provides funding oversight. It currently has a membership of over 9,600 law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

The ROCIC

Sheriff (Ret) Al Lamberti is the ROCIC representative in Florida

The ROCIC, serving Florida along with 13 other states and two territories, mission focuses on eight functions that assist state, local, and federal agencies.

1. RISSnet provides secure access to critical national information resources and even a secure email system so that sensitive information can be exchanged.
2. Investigator Assistance fosters information sharing and offers a full range of support services.
3. Officer Safety for event deconfliction and training.
4. Crime Analysis by developing analytical products such as link-analysis charts.
5. Digital Forensics with fusion center assistance.
6. Equipment loans such as body-wire receivers and cameras.
7. Training via the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
8. Publications including law enforcement sensitive briefing materials.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Donna Lusczynski has been a member of the ROCIC Board of Directors for 11 years. The Board is responsible for capturing the product usage data, correlating it, and presenting it to the Bureau of Justice Assistance each year to ensure the funding stream continues to support their efforts in the fourteen states they serve along with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Currently, in Florida alone, there are 146 member agencies with 54,157 sworn personnel being served. Among other products delivered, there were 3,672 criminal intelligence database inquiries and 246 pieces of investigative equipment loaned.

Hillsborough Chief Deputy Donna Lusczynski

A Success Story

The ROCIC has provided the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office with high resolution surveillance equipment for undercover investigations multiple times. This partnership enabled the collection of video and audio evidence along with analytical assistance and enhanced officer safety.

In June 2021, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office conducted a two-day operation focusing on individuals soliciting for prostitution online and via websites. In partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, 13 offenders were arrested consisting of prostitutes, transporters, and handlers. Technical equipment provided by the ROCIC was used in this investigation. One victim of human trafficking was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and was provided with a variety of services and assistance. Additionally, according to Sergeant Mike Breckwoldt, their Special Investigations Unit has utilized RISSnet and investigator assistance from the ROCIC to locate and identify members of a local drug trafficking organization.

An arrest in one of the Flagler County cases