What Do You Know About Federal Law Enforcement Agencies?

Federal law enforcement agencies employ more than 120,000 people in the United States. The duties of a federal law enforcement officer include criminal investigation, inspections and detention.

In 1789, the United State government established the Marshals Service. It's the primary agency for fugitive operations and carries the motto: "Justice, Integrity, Service."

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection employs more than 27,700 people, making it the largest federal law enforcement agency. In second place, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has more than 15,200 employees.

Organized within the federal government, federal law enforcement agencies primarily serve to prevent, detect and investigate crimes. Other responsibilities include apprehending alleged offenders.

The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security house the majority of federal law enforcement agencies. Some agencies operate independently. Others are within the Department of the Interior, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

Less than two weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the United States established the Office of Homeland Security. In November 2002, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act thus formally creating the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department of Justice oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Department of Homeland Security houses 22 federal departments and agencies.

In the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act to strengthen national security. It granted federal law enforcement agencies new powers such as the expansion of the National Electronic Crime Task Force.

As Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin recognized the need for regulation and surveillance of the mail. He appointed William Goddard to the position of “Postal Surveyor,” thus laying the groundwork for the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The United States Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations unit takes care of the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. In total, the USFS oversees 193 million acres, which equates to 25 percent of all federal lands.

With the help of the U.S. Pentagon Police, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency upholds security within the headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The PFPA also safeguards the Mark Center Building, the Defense Health Headquarters and various other Pentagon facilities.

For both foreign and domestic intelligence and counterintelligence purposes, the National Security Agency has been an important federal law enforcement agency since before it was even official. The NSA began as a unit to decipher coded communications during World War II. The National Security Agency Police safeguard employees, visitors and property in relation to the NSA.

Since 1906, the Food and Drug Administration has worked to protect and promote public health through its oversight of food, tobacco, medicine, supplements, vaccines, cosmetics and more. The Office of Criminal Investigations helps the FDA investigate suspected criminal violations.

While the other military branches are forbidden from acting in a law enforcement capacity, the United States Coast Guard operates within the Department of Homeland Security when the country is not at war. The Coast Guard became a part of DHS in 2002 with the signing of the Homeland Security Act.

Employing approximately 20,000 agents, the United States Border Patrol is the mobile unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In addition to stopping people from illegally crossing into the United States, Border Patrol agents also combat terrorism and human trafficking.

Organized within the Department of Justice, the FBI is a a counter-terrorism, counterintelligence and criminal investigative agency. Although it primarily focuses on domestic issues and threats, the FBI also maintains working relationships with U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.

In 1924, Hoover became head of the Bureau of Investigation, which preceded the FBI. The bureau received its current name in 1935. When he died at the age of 77, Hoover had spent 48 years as FBI director.

Since 1973, the Drug Enforcement Administration has worked in coordination with other federal law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to detect and pursue drug investigations. President Richard Nixon signed a bill establishing the DEA.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has appeared in multiple television shows and movies, including its own reality TV program on the Spike TV network. In addition to “Breaking Bad” and Narcos,” the DEA has a central role in the James Bond film “License to Kill.”

On April 14, 1865, Lincoln established the United States Secret Service. That same day, John Wilkes Booth shot and killed Lincoln in the Ford Theater. Initially, the Secret Service's purpose was counterfeiter apprehension. It wasn't until 36 years later that the agency began protecting the president.

Presently, the Federal Bureau of Prisons oversees approximately 183,000 inmates. One of the largest federal law enforcement agencies, the BOP is organized within the Department of Justice.

Now under the Department of Justice, the BATFE works closely with state and local task forces to ensure the lawful use of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives. Although not officially established until the 1970s, the origins of the agency date back to the prohibition era in the United States.

Actor Timothy Olyphant played Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal from Kentucky. The TV series, which dramatized the U.S. Marshals Service, comprised of six seasons and concluded in April 2015.

Since 1970, the Federal Witness Protection Program has safeguarded witnesses and gone as far as to provide new identities to permanently hide high-risk persons. To date, the U.S. Marshals have protected more than 7,500 witnesses and their families.

As arguably the most powerful federal law enforcement agency in the United States, the FBI tackles crimes that specifically fall under their jurisdiction such as cases where the criminal crosses state lines and violations of federal laws. The FBI does not prosecute cases.

Following J. Edgar Hoover's nearly five-decade reign as FBI director, the president now appoints the FBI director for a 10-year term. In addition to “Federal Bureau of Investigation,” FBI stands for the agency's motto: Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity.

Congress granted FBI agents the authority to carry handguns in 1934. To start, agents carried .38s but switched to 10mm semi-automatics in the 1990s. When it became apparent the 10mm semi-automatics were too powerful for standard duty, the FBI switched to .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handguns.

The Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces wildlife protection laws. Their work includes preventing the exploitation of protected species, identifying and disrupting animal smuggling rings as well as enforcing hunting regulations.

Specifically referring to uniformed agents, the National Park Service rangers enforce regulations and laws within the national parks. The first national park ranger, Harry Yount, enforced hunting regulations within Yellowstone National park in the 1880s.

As federal police officers, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Police respond to crimes committed on reservations. They may have the authority to enforce tribal law, and preferred candidates for the position are Native Americans.

On average, the U.S Marshals arrest 366 fugitives every day. This federal law enforcement agency utilizes their “15 Most Wanted” fugitive program to bring attention to high-profile fugitives, such as individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety.

During the late 1980s, the DEA and other U.S. law enforcement agencies turned their focus to Mexico-based drug traffickers. Due to its strategic location between South America and the southern U.S. border, the use of Mexican territory increased, and in 1989, law enforcement agencies seized 40,000 kilograms of cocaine (up from less than 2,000 kilograms in 1985).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has put more than 494 names on its “Most Wanted” list. Of those named fugitives, the FBI has either located or caught 465 of them.

In February 1993, ATF agents conducted a raid to execute a federal search warrant on a compound near Waco, Texas, belonging to the Branch Davidian sect. After a gun battle resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidian members, the FBI took over and launched what became known as the Waco Siege.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigates criminal activities involving the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps. A long-running television show dramatizing this federal law enforcement agency (“NCIS”) has been on their air for 16 seasons.