PORTLAND (AP) – The Maine Civil Liberties Union wants to know more about the activities and policies of a state center set up after the 9/11 attacks to bring together the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement and intelligence-gathering agencies.

Shenna Bellows, MCLU’s executive director, said she’s worried that the line between law enforcement and intelligence gathering could be blurred and crossed at Maine’s fusion center, which is called the Maine Information Analysis Center.

The center was created by an executive order by Gov. John Baldacci nearly two years ago to evaluate intelligence about potential terrorist activity.

There has been abuse reported in other states because of the agency’s broad mandates, Bellows said. For example, a plainclothes detective allegedly took photographs of participants during a peaceful demonstration at Harvard University, she said.

“We want to know what the policies and procedures are,” Bellows said. “We want to know what they’re doing. We’re curious to know what safeguards are in place to make sure the abuses that are happening elsewhere are not happening in Maine.”

As of March 2008, there were nearly 60 fusion centers around the country in 16 states, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Maine Information Analysis Center is described as a clearinghouse for information and intelligence related to homeland security concerns and any terrorist-related activity. The goal is to make sure important information is shared among appropriate agencies.

The Maine Information Analysis Center is located in the same building that houses the Maine Department of Public Safety and Maine Emergency Management Agency.

“This is an information-gathering tool for criminal activity and there is no secret as to its existence,” said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Maine State Police will comply with MCLU’s Freedom of Access Act request for information about the agency’s policies, procedures and practices. The MCLU seeks any and all data and analysis of suspicious activity reports.

It’s part of a nationwide American Civil Liberties Union campaign to monitor the activities of fusion centers across the country.

Although there’s no evidence of abuse by the agency in Maine, the MCLU is concerned because the agency’s mission is broad and its actions may not be properly reviewed.

The agency’s definition of suspicious activity, for example, includes someone taking photos of a building or taking notes, using binoculars or night vision devices or asking unusual and detailed questions about a building, area or event.

Those definitions are too broad, Bellows said.

“MIAC’s description of suspicious activity would have us report bird watchers, builders, and photographers to the government,” she said.