Going Fed After Being a Local/State LEO

[Kimble]

I got a message recently asking about the transition from being a local/state LE to a fed, and thought it might be beneficial to others to provide some feedback from the experiences of feds on this forum for other LEOs looking to make the transition. I've included responses below (based on my experience only) to the questions I received. While there are a ton of various federal LE agencies out there, both uniformed and plainclothes investigators, I can only speak from my own personal experience, which was going from local LE patrol to a plainclothes 1811 position. To my fellow federal LEOs, or other LEOs who are going through the transition, feel free to add your input and experience however you see fit.

I'd like to work investigations, but at my department I'd spend more time following up on vandalisms and reckless driving complaints than serious crimes.

I never worked as an investigator for a local/state LE agency, but from what I see, commonly new detectives start out working the less "sexy" crimes before gaining the seniority needed to move onto more complex cases. Truth is, the same is often true in the federal world. Some agencies dump complex cases in your lap on Day 1, because they have limited resources and need the work done, but an agent I know who formerly worked with the FBI said his whole first year was shadowing a senior agent before he ever was assigned his own cases.

Every agency has their BS cases to work, and seniority and experience go far in any organization as far as your preference steering what you actually work.

I clearly know there's not a lot of door kicking and ***-beating going on as an 1811, but what is a typical day like in the shoes of a fed?

Depends entirely on assignment and what office you work in, but expect many days of office work, typing reports, database checks and other research, interviews (not only of witnesses, victims and suspect, but also people who may have additional background information, like subject matter experts on complex economic crimes cases).

Year-to-year, how many arrests do you make?

I've been a fed for about 2 years and have made probably a dozen or so arrests, but not all of them were on my cases. Many were either assists on someone else's case, or while doing something to assist another agency (like warrant round-ups in our area). I've had several suspects in my cases face restitution, probation, administrative discipline, or something other than arrest (I've seen several times where an AUSA will not take a case for prosecution because it doesn't interest them, regardless of whether it's against federal law or not). In the federal realm, the AUSA steers your case to a large point, so it's not like taking a case locally where you secure the arrest warrant and the prosecution climbs on board after the suspect is arrested. I know one supervisor in my agency that has been on the job for 16 years and has made one (1) arrest, but he works in a specialized billet that doesn't do much criminal enforcement.

Do you miss patrol work?

I'm starting to get to the point where working investigations is my niche and what I enjoy, but when I first made the transition I did miss patrol, a lot! I do ride-alongs occasionally, and get involved with extra assignments when I can (warrant round-ups tend to be my personal favorite :cool, but I think this is probably true for investigators with local/state agencies, too. I missed the adrenaline rushes in patrol, the spontenaity of calls, and way each day was something new (vice following up on cases you've been working for days, weeks, or months), and several times during my first year I thought about what it would take to go back to local LE (but ultimately realized I didn't have the money to re-relocate back home, or the support from my wife to go back to working shifts). As time went on and I got acclimated with working investigations, it is what I'm used to and enjoy, so it's not as much of an issue as it was at first.

For me, though, the salary increase, opportunity to do things I never would have as a local LEO (supplementing a protection detail for a former US president was pretty cool), and having more "normal" work hours so that I can have more family time are worth the lack of arrests or excitement on a daily, or weekly bases.

I'm about 75-80% sure that I'd really like working for the FBI, but I don't want to do all the work to get hired, go to Quantico, take a pay cut, then move to somewhere else to find out that I can't handle the basics of the job or the day-to-day grind of a 1811.

I would find it hard to believe that a local cop can't do this job, whether having worked in investigations before or not. This job, just like being a street cop, comes down to knowing the law and how to apply it. Officer safety is the same, whether your a patrol officer or a federal agent. Conducting a successful investigation comes down to interviewing people to find out what you got, and doing research to corroborate what you've been told. No matter if it's a simple burglary or a complex, multi-million dollar fraud scheme, all investigations have the same basic steps.

I honestly feel like I could probably be happy either way (staying here or going fed), but I really want to look back on my career in 20 years and say that I locked up some real ****bags and kept people safe (and my impression now is that working for the FBI will help me do that moreso than where i'm at now).

So far in my career as a fed, I've worked general crimes (everything from larceny and simple frauds to rape and death cases) and procurement fraud investigations. I've also worked in an office where child sex crimes were worked, so I've had some experience in assisting on their interviews/interrogations, searches, and other investigative techniques. From what I've seen, feds don't do more to go after "real criminals" or keeping people safe than local and state LEOs do. We all fight the same fight. The FBI plays a far smaller role in public safety than a local, county or state LE agency, just look at their "Top 10 Priorities" list (domestic intel and counterterrorism are at the top of their list).

If anything, from what I've seen, with few exceptions the feds are more dependent on local/state LEOs than the other way around. I've reached out to local LEOs hundreds of times, and had maybe a few dozen times where I've gotten a call from a local LEO for assistance on something they couldn't accomplish themselves. The fact is, while most federal jobs close around 1700 each day, the local and state LE agencies are manned 24/7 because they are putting away real criminals at the times when the real criminals are out committing their crimes.

I enjoy working as an 1811, and plan to retire from this field within LE, but it's not for everyone, and it's definitely not what Hollywood and the media present it to be. A lot of the work of being a fed is being a desk jockey, working cases through research and interviews, and then writing report after report on what you got. I found out the hard way that coming to this job with a lot of "piss and vinegar" still in you can make for a rough transition, but for me it worked out because I still had a firmly-rooted interested in working federal cases and enjoy the mind game aspects of working a criminal investigation.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I couldn't afford the pay cut to work Fed. I know a lot of cops from departments that pay squat look to the Fed jobs for a pay boost and their chance to get out of Mayberry.

At one point I wanted a Fed job - NCIS, DEA or U.S. Marshal work. Unfortunately, Sarge doesn't have that little piece of paper they like so much and those gigs rarely hire.

The one good thing about Fed work is the opportunity to travel and get high-quality training. Not that we can't get it at the State/County/local levels, it's just that it seems much more difficult to get down here due to "mandatory staffing" issues.

[madchiken]

That's why I love my job!

I have my cases, other agents cases, cases we work with ICE, DEA, and HIDTA, and between those we're looking for dope or alien loads in vehicles or in the brush.

I still can't believe they pay me...

[Motorolanut]

I made the transition after 9/11 for the classic reasons, childhood dream, money..blah blah blah.
And Ros is 100% accurate in his description of Federal Leo Work. The exciting times are few are far between. BUT here are some of my short list of positives of being a FLEO. (For me anyways.)

#1 Every Holiday Off
#2 Every Weekend Off
#3 7-3, 8-4, 9-5 M thru F..Yes Emergency Essential But 99.5% never called...
#4 Good Health care, Well major medical that is...
#5 Decent Retirement, TSP, FERS, and or your own 401K
#6 Two and a half times what I used to make working as a full time deputy sheriff, no more working two jobs for extra bling bling money.
#7 Take home G-ride, gas and travel card.
#8 Chances to meet VIPS and other FLEOS (TDY's and so forth)
#9 Nice Equipment including cool firearms (If you are into those hobbies)
#10 Plenty of Training, Range Time, and a big dose of FLETC chicken..LOL

Do I miss waking up at 1100 PM, showering, putting on the uniform and working midnight shifts when I was already tired from court, or rotating over
from afternoon or day shift..NO
Do I miss cleaning piss and puke off my backseat or carpet from a DUI, or a homeless person in the backseat who has no had a bath in 6 months. NO
Do I miss watching judges and magistrates sentance people to Home Confinement rather than actual time in the shoe..LOL..NO:mad:

Do I miss the close friends you have working shift work, the department and the code of blue. YES
Do I miss the fun times, all the laughs I had that came with working the street. YES
Do I miss the 0-100 mph back to 0 again when exciting calls happened. YES

The Transition is not for everyone and each person should weigh the pros and cons of each career field carefully before making the decision.
I personally feel my quality of life has improved for my family and myself since going to the feds.

But as I drive my G-ride by a traffic stop on the interstate, I still look in the rearview mirror and wish I was there sometimes.

I leave you with this, "I don't miss the Circus, but I sure miss the Clowns!":D

[CincyCop]

Neither a FLEO nor a LEO here...but we sure haul a bunch of FLEOs (not including FAMs) around the country on our aircraft. Did you know that the EPA has FLEOs? My point is that air travel seems to be quite common in the FLEO arena as opposed to the local/state LEO arena. Just an observation.

Carry on and carry out the plan of the day.

[Switchback]

You are not kiddiny, Cincy! There are a TON of OIGs out there. Hell, the Libray of Congress and National Science Foundation both have 1811 positions.

[intheaircop2]

I will say this much. If you are a cop and want to be an 1811 then do it. But for heavens sake do not leave your cop job for the FAMs!!!!!!!!!! You will regret it after 6 months here, I promise you.

[Switchback]

I will say this much. If you are a cop and want to be an 1811 then do it. But for heavens sake do not leave your cop job for the FAMs!!!!!!!!!! You will regret it after 6 months here, I promise you.

LOL

There are plenty of 1811s who went to the FAMs after 9/11, just for the money. Most came running back to their old jobs... if the old jobs would have them. We took some back and, luckily, some we did not.

[BP348]

LOL

There are plenty of 1811s who went to the FAMs after 9/11, just for the money. Most came running back to their old jobs... if the old jobs would have them. We took some back and, luckily, some we did not.

+1

That was kind of a sore spot for many BPA's. We saw a bunch of guys leave for the FAMS as GS-9's and then those that USBP did allow back 90%+ came back as GS-11's step 10 :eek:

That was a huge kick in the twins for those of us who stuck it out thru that tough time when moral was really low in USBP.

Most of the USBP guys I know who went 1811 like it but most say it's not better it's different (not in a bad way) and they like the hours and or place where they are stationed better. Many leave for the GS-13. All say they miss the guys/gals they worked with.

New rumor control has it that USBP & CBPO's will get across the board GS-12's this year, if congress approves the $$$. Another rumor says that part of the budget has already been cut so I don't know what to believe.

[ButterChunk]

Pshaw! The FAM service is alright -- provided you have no illusions about what it is, and what it isn't!!! ;)

[greg72982]

Feds aren't even real cops are they?

[Joeyd6]

LOL

There are plenty of 1811s who went to the FAMs after 9/11, just for the money. Most came running back to their old jobs... if the old jobs would have them. We took some back and, luckily, some we did not.

Ditto on that. I went to the FAMS knowing three things:
1) Stop the 6c clock
2) It would be TEMPORARY
3) I was activley going for the 1811 gig

Thus I went in knowing that, acted like a mature adult, and did a 18 month sentance before getting paroled. My class was the first hired after the huge 9/11 ramp-up. Very few are happy now, and while some are typical lazy cops, some are good people. Plus the "nonsense" that goes on in some office with staff will just kill you if you were a LEO before. It may not bother the 21 year old who just got their college degree, badge and gun, but if you have LEO experience, it will bother you.

[ButterChunk]

FAMs are like smokers -- you have those who know it's bad for them, complain about it to others, but can't seem to quit.... :D

I will say this much. If you are a cop and want to be an 1811 then do it. But for heavens sake do not leave your cop job for the FAMs!!!!!!!!!! You will regret it after 6 months here, I promise you.

And then you have those who have quit and become crusaders.... :D

Ditto on that. I went to the FAMS knowing three things:
1) Stop the 6c clock
2) It would be TEMPORARY
3) I was activley going for the 1811 gig

Thus I went in knowing that, acted like a mature adult, and did a 18 month sentance before getting paroled. My class was the first hired after the huge 9/11 ramp-up. Very few are happy now, and while some are typical lazy cops, some are good people. Plus the "nonsense" that goes on in some office with staff will just kill you if you were a LEO before. It may not bother the 21 year old who just got their college degree, badge and gun, but if you have LEO experience, it will bother you.

All kidding aside -- It is no joke regarding the office nonsense. So it's just best to avoid it altogether when possible. I had enough door-kicking in my twenties to last me a lifetime (which was not a lot by most people's standards, I imagine), but as content as I am for the moment, I do like to picture a nice medium to medium/slow-speed OIG slot in my future.

[Maverick24]

Ditto on that. I went to the FAMS knowing three things:
1) Stop the 6c clock
2) It would be TEMPORARY
3) I was activley going for the 1811 gig

Thus I went in knowing that, acted like a mature adult, and did a 18 month sentance before getting paroled. My class was the first hired after the huge 9/11 ramp-up. Very few are happy now, and while some are typical lazy cops, some are good people. Plus the "nonsense" that goes on in some office with staff will just kill you if you were a LEO before. It may not bother the 21 year old who just got their college degree, badge and gun, but if you have LEO experience, it will bother you.

Couldnt have said it better Joey. While I enjoyed some of my time as a FAM (got to see the world, good pay, worked and trained with some great people) I really started to hit a wall around year 3. Not only was the constant overseas travel getting to me, but the BS stuff going on in the office was making it rougher and rougher on all of us. Decided it was time to move on, which is why im cooped up at FLETC right now

[Kimble]

Decided it was time to move on, which is why im cooped up at FLETC right now

Tell "Grouper" I said hi. ;)