A group of law enforcement agencies in Central Texas want to work together to share crime information.
Agencies in Travis, Williamson and Hays County want something known as a fusion center. It will be called the Austin Regional Intelligence Center.
The idea is to bring dozens of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies together in the same building to share intelligence.
More than 70 similar centers already exist across the nation.
Authorities say it allows them to produce intelligence to solve, interrupt or prevent crimes from serial rapists or robbers. They also believe the center could impact organized crime including drug or human trafficking, and could help stop terrorist activity.
However, there's concern over too much information leaking out.
At a public forum many skeptics including members of the American Civil Liberties Union spoke out against the center. They're worried privacy problems uncovered at other fusion centers could happen here.
"There have been a lot of examples of really poor practices, both inefficient police practices and you know unconstitutional at least privacy evading acts," said Matt Simpson of the ACLU.
APD said it would work with agencies including the ACLU to address specific concerns.
"We actually have a privacy policy advocacy committee consisting of activist groups and stakeholders that have input that we report to as well as the public safety commission so that they can see what is they're doing and they can look at it and say you know what this looks to be problematic," said Chief of Staff David Carter of APD.
The center has received approval from all but one the of the public safety commissioners. The next and final say comes from city council.
If it is approved the center is expected to go up at the Texas Department of Public Safety headquarters on North Lamar.
The money to fund the center will come from Homeland Security grants.
Council takes their vote on Thursday, May 27.
