The Berks County District Attorney’s Office currently has one Detective assigned as a federally sworn member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) attached to the Allentown Resident Agency.  Detective Michael Kurtz is assigned in this capacity. He possesses Top Secret (TS) and Sensitive Compartmental Information (SCI) clearances. He works in conjunction with the FBI and other federal agencies involved in national security. Detective Kurtz’s duties include the following:

o        Berks County representative on the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC), Eastern  District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney’s Office

o        Conduct follow up investigations on FBI “Guardian Leads” (initial terrorist and possible terrorism related tips and complaints filed with the FBI)

o        Open federal case if the Guardian Lead warrants such

o        Cultivate and handle human intelligence sources

o        Identify and evaluate potential local terrorism targets

o        Locate and interview subjects (witnesses, sources and suspects)

o        Surveillance activities on persons or locations

o        Assist any federal, state or local agencies with homeland security related investigations

o        Attempt to meet and develop a relationship and network with leaders and various persons involved in the local Islamic Community

o        Maintain a homeland security email list comprised of local law enforcement officers interested in receiving homeland security intelligence updates and training fliers

o        Educate local Law Enforcement Officers, Probation Officers, Correctional Officers, Prosecutors, etc. on what to look for and questions to ask, if they suspect someone may have radical connections

         Department of Homeland Security