Laura Kennedy, a senior criminal intelligence analyst with the Dallas Police Department, has been named the 2026 Crime Analyst of the Year by the Texas Gang Investigators Association. The department announced the achievement on social media, highlighting Kennedy’s contributions to gang investigations across Texas and other regions.
The award was presented during a ceremony where Texas Governor Greg Abbott served as the master of ceremonies. Abbott handed out the honors alongside leadership from the Texas Gang Investigators Association. The department noted that Kennedy’s dedication to supporting gang investigations earned her the distinction.
The Texas Gang Investigators Association recognizes professionals who contribute significantly to law enforcement efforts related to gang activity. Fusion centers, which are part of the broader network supporting these efforts, serve as focal points for receiving, analyzing, and sharing threat-related information among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. These centers help empower law enforcement, public safety, fire service, emergency response, public health, and private sector security personnel to gather and share threat information lawfully.
Fusion centers receive threat information from the federal government, analyze it within the context of their local environment, and disseminate it to local agencies. They also gather tips, leads, and suspicious activity reporting from local agencies and the public. This collaborative approach aims to enhance public safety and critical infrastructure protection.
The Dallas Police Department’s recognition of Kennedy underscores the importance of specialized roles in combating gang-related crimes. Her award reflects the broader efforts of law enforcement agencies to address complex criminal activities through intelligence analysis and interagency cooperation.
