Wikicop20 + 186 Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 (edited) - Federal agent (FBI) was investigating corruption within a local sheriff's office. - In a plain car, plain-clothes (car was registered to a dummy company). - Said Sheriff's office deputy turns up and a deputy ends the idea of professional courtesy! - Essentially, the deputy was not happy with the agent's identity, but when it transpired he was a federal agent, it all went slightly Pete Tong, as they had already put the agent in a patrol car and he 'overheated', que rescue-ambulance arriving and taking the agent away. - The Sheriff himself had been on scene but disappeared rather swiftly at that point... - Pretty poor communication and fault on both sides I'd say, perhaps not helped by the heat. Seemed the agent had uncovered the kinds of attitudes he was probably investigating in the first place... Best comment has got to be when the deputy said that the agent showed him "ID" but not a "badge", as if the badge over the credentials prove who one is...! I find the USA fascinating in many areas, but frankly, it's all a bit odd. Edited May 2, 2020 by fbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radman + 2,165 Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 (edited) I didn't realise the FBI had something of a remit to investigate corruption within local and state law enforcement departments. My understanding is a federal agents remit is entirely dependent on what the state and local county is willing to authorise them. Some have full powers of a law enforcement officer to carry out all duties in law and other states only grant the authority for agents to enforce federal crimes on federal property.There have even been instances in the US where state law makers have severely curtailed federal agents powers and ability to act as law enforcement within their areas (I remember reading about a case in the 1990s where a state threatened to remove the FBI entirely other some controversy.) The FBI is probably the most well known federal agency but there are lots of different 'federal agents' in the US (just as there tends to be lots of different local and state police aswell.) Sheriffs remain quite powerful people within their areas and are supposedly the supreme voice of what goes off in their county (contrary to what you see on TV) funnily enough a local sheriffs department in California recently stripped the authority from the federal 'forestry police' in his county after numerous breaches of policy and complaints from local residents.... This was quickly rectified but it goes to show the unique way in which the US does things. Something of a similar note a few years ago I had two NCA officers/agents (whatever) turn up at the police office (very small, end of platform type office) on duty at the time was me and a very bored PCSO.... This was totally unannounced and very surprising. They were dressed like Mulder and Scully from the Xfiles, I'm talking trench style coats, suits etc they couldn't have looked more NCA if they had tried. That may seem mundane to some working out of big nicks which have lots of other agencies coming through but where I work we aren't used to having other agencies turn up at the office door 😂. Edited May 2, 2020 by Radman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wikicop20 + 186 Posted May 2, 2020 Author Share Posted May 2, 2020 35 minutes ago, Radman said: I didn't realise the FBI had something of a remit to investigate corruption within local and state law enforcement departments. My understanding is a federal agents remit is entirely dependent on what the state and local county is willing to authorise them. Some have full powers of a law enforcement officer to carry out all duties in law and other states only grant the authority for agents to enforce federal crimes on federal property.There have even been instances in the US where state law makers have severely curtailed federal agents powers and ability to act as law enforcement within their areas (I remember reading about a case in the 1990s where a state threatened to remove the FBI entirely other some controversy.) The FBI is probably the most well known federal agency but there are lots of different 'federal agents' in the US (just as there tends to be lots of different local and state police aswell.) Sheriffs remain quite powerful people within their areas and are supposedly the supreme voice of what goes off in their county (contrary to what you see on TV) funnily enough a local sheriffs department in California recently stripped the authority from the federal 'forestry police' in his county after numerous breaches of policy and complaints from local residents.... This was quickly rectified but it goes to show the unique way in which the US does things. Something of a similar note a few years ago I had two NCA officers/agents (whatever) turn up at the police office (very small, end of platform type office) on duty at the time was me and a very bored PCSO.... This was totally unannounced and very surprising. They were dressed like Mulder and Scully from the Xfiles, I'm talking trench style coats, suits etc they couldn't have looked more NCA if they had tried. That may seem mundane to some working out of big nicks which have lots of other agencies coming through but where I work we aren't used to having other agencies turn up at the office door 😂. Yes it’s such a different setup. The myriad of federal agencies is astonishing, even more so that pretty much each Fed dept. has its own Office of Inspector General (OIG) who are special agents. E.g. the DoJ (holds FBI and ATF) have their own agents, to supervise the agencies they supervise! The office of the Sheriff is so unique, in that they are elected representatives! Which is great in some cases like you mention when other agencies make a mess, but can also lead to problems. You may be aware of the Bundy rancher case? Couple of years ago, Federal Rangers from Bureau of Land Managment got into a armed standoff (full on western 2016 style), I think the Sheriff acted as the mediator. Must of been a wake up when the trench coats arrived! They seem to recruit a lot, currently for serving armed police I see on Civil Service jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wikicop20 + 186 Posted May 2, 2020 Author Share Posted May 2, 2020 (edited) Just found: https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/does-the-fbi-investigate-graft-and-corruption-in-local-government-and-in-state-and-local-police-departments Quote The FBI uses applicable federal laws, including the Hobbs Act, to investigate violations by public officials in federal, state, and local governments. Including local SD and PD. And get this the DoJ OIG Agents: Quote Special Agents promote integrity within the Department essentially protect and investigate their Dept, while the FBI investigates other departments, who investigate the public... Edited May 2, 2020 by fbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ether + 1,437 Posted May 2, 2020 Share Posted May 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Radman said: I didn't realise the FBI had something of a remit to investigate corruption within local and state law enforcement departments. My understanding is a federal agents remit is entirely dependent on what the state and local county is willing to authorise them. Some have full powers of a law enforcement officer to carry out all duties in law and other states only grant the authority for agents to enforce federal crimes on federal property.There have even been instances in the US where state law makers have severely curtailed federal agents powers and ability to act as law enforcement within their areas (I remember reading about a case in the 1990s where a state threatened to remove the FBI entirely other some controversy.) The FBI is probably the most well known federal agency but there are lots of different 'federal agents' in the US (just as there tends to be lots of different local and state police aswell.) Sheriffs remain quite powerful people within their areas and are supposedly the supreme voice of what goes off in their county (contrary to what you see on TV) funnily enough a local sheriffs department in California recently stripped the authority from the federal 'forestry police' in his county after numerous breaches of policy and complaints from local residents.... This was quickly rectified but it goes to show the unique way in which the US does things. Something of a similar note a few years ago I had two NCA officers/agents (whatever) turn up at the police office (very small, end of platform type office) on duty at the time was me and a very bored PCSO.... This was totally unannounced and very surprising. They were dressed like Mulder and Scully from the Xfiles, I'm talking trench style coats, suits etc they couldn't have looked more NCA if they had tried. That may seem mundane to some working out of big nicks which have lots of other agencies coming through but where I work we aren't used to having other agencies turn up at the office door 😂. I have become used to explaining who I am and what I am at every Nick for the first 30 mins. Most often I book in a prisoner and then have the Custody Sgt ask can I actually do this and where are my powers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoliceDoge + 129 Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 15 hours ago, Ether said: I have become used to explaining who I am and what I am at every Nick for the first 30 mins. Most often I book in a prisoner and then have the Custody Sgt ask can I actually do this and where are my powers What is it you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now