The FEDS

[Big Sexy]

Obviously, television paints us as antagonists. Unable to get along due to "Jurisdictional Issues". Us Feds, usually played by our brethren in the Bureau, are always phucking up your cases are stepping all over your toes, due to the aforementioned jurisdictional issues.

That, or the locals are lazy, incompetent or corrupt and us Feds ride in to right the wrong. So according to television, one of us is either a bumbling idiot, while the other is a razor sharp investigator.

Thusly, BIG SEXY was curious as to what you, the local or state officer, feels towards us. This is of course, if you have regular dealings with us. BIG is aware that most of you may only encounter us for fleeting moments in time, with no long term relationships. Example, BIG has met many a police officer or deputy sheriff in his area, but only has regular dealings with a couple of the gang officers.

Hence the topic of this discussion and the many questions that follow.

How many of you, if any, have had regular dealings with a Federal agency/agencies?

If you have had regular dealings with an agency/agencies, what agency/agencies is/was it?

And if you have had dealings, what were they?

And what impression were you left with after dealing with the agency/agencies?

[Stan Switek]

I've had lots of contact with the DEA during my career. They were outstanding to work with. Also worked some cases with the investigative branch of the DOD. Again they were excellent. The investigative people I dealt with from the FAA were not very enthustiac. FBI was hit or miss. They were great help in a case against some anarchists & bank robberies. As far I the jurisdictioal issue protrayed on TV, in 30 years on the job, never saw or even heard of such a thing taking place.

[Valor55]

I think the absolute worse are the ICE special agents. :p

Personally I've had nothing but absolutely positive interactions some of the various feds. Most recently was the ATF who helped us take a case federally when a convicted felon/drug addict shot a detective in the foot.

The only thing I've heard bad has been anecdotal stories of dealing with the FBI. I've met a few agenst who seemed like great guys, however I've never worked with any.

One of my pet peeves about hollyweird is that they usually protray law enforcement of any stripe as incompetent, or corrupt. It's always the rogue, a retard (Monk), or a non-cop who swoops in to save the day.

[Norm357]

In my line of work, I deal with a lot of Feds from different agencies. From the DEA to the TSA to the FAA to ICE (Customs). Nothing but good things to say about them here in Atlanta.

[Cat_Doc]

I have predominately dealt with the FBI in regard to homicide investigations because of the three Reservations that are in our county. The Field Agents are pretty damn sharp and have their stuff together. The "suits" that show up once in a while from back east are another story, distinctly lacking "street savvy."

The old school Customs Agents were absolutely fantastic to work with when I was in the narcotics task force back in the 80's. Those guys knew their stuff and had grasped the street level savvy to conduct investigations and interview informants/bad guys correctly. I don't know for sure, but I think there were a lot more DEA guys out of country (South America/Mexico?) back then, I did not see too much of them.

Just lately, although I don't work with them directly, we have been teaming up (more than ever before it seems) with the U.S. Marshals on fugitive round-ups. From what I hear from the field deputies; these guys are top notch.

Now, the Border Patrol guys that might be in here, please don't take offense, but from what I have seen, BP does great on what they are designed for, but they tend to be a little squirrelly when they stop by to assist on real police work. I don't think they have been particularly trained for this type of law enforcement. We bounce a fairly high amount of citizen complaints back to BP when we find out it was not our people who committed the alleged discourtesy/misconduct.

[DetSarg1]

I posted this a few weeks ago in another thread but it is worth repeating as it goes right along with Big's question.

One of my detectives recently had a case in which we needed some help recovering a fugitive from out of the country and it had to happen in about 48 hours.

The FBI gave us the “we have to run 1000 sheets of paper by Washington first.” The Marshal Service said they could probably help in a week or so.

2 phone calls to ICE and our fugitive was back in the States in two days. We had to step on a few supervisors’ heads but ICE ultimately came through.

They took care of dealing with the U.S. Ambassador, the foreign country’s political and governmental issues, the coordination with the local police in the apprehension, the detention and airfare. They did all of this in literally about 36 hours.

My thanks to ICE.

[MORA Ranger]

I've worked with a few city cops. A couple are great, the majority seem to be jerks. But apparently Boston PD doesn't get along with anyone, so I try not to feel singled out.

[ngcsubutterbar]

Only contact I had regularly for a little while was the local Marshal office. Seemed like a good group.

[Big Sexy]

So, out of all you fine officers here on RP. Only five, local, county and state officers have had dealings with those of us on the Federal level? Damn, are you sure we really exist and aren't just an urban myth. :p

[chewy]

Well, when I was in the CG I worked a lot with the various agents (I was our units LE Liaison officer). I have to say my favorite two were US Customs agents and the DEA agents I worked with. My other list of "Very good to deal with" would have been the USMS and ATF. I dealt with FBI, USF&W and USPIS and had very bad experiences on several occassions. The FBI was the worst, you deal with them and most of the agents act like it is some present from God that I even got to talk to them....:rolleyes: I also worked with DSS and USSS and have neutral feed back. I don't classify it as negative because each instance (once with DSS and three with USSS) everyone was kind of serious all the time. Very professional and not at all demeaning or anything but no one really seemed to be having fun doing their job. Anyway, that's just my experience.

I've had some dealings with EPA agents when I worked Hazmat for a private Environmental company working on Superfund sites and such and they were always kind of layed back.

CG CGI Agents (Coast Guard 1811 S/A's) were kind of in between.... of course I was active duty at the time so, as they do our IA stuff too they never really hung out with us, it was always business.

Oh, and BP I've always had good experiences with! :D

[North Patrol]

Now, the Border Patrol guys that might be in here, please don't take offense, but from what I have seen, BP does great on what they are designed for, but they tend to be a little squirrelly when they stop by to assist on real police work. I don't think they have been particularly trained for this type of law enforcement. We bounce a fairly high amount of citizen complaints back to BP when we find out it was not our people who committed the alleged discourtesy/misconduct.

No offense taken. As for those of us in the BP that were street cops before it gets a little frustrating also. People do not realize that for the most part PA's are trained to hunt people (literaly) and 99% of the ones we deal with lie to us. Try spending each day at work knowing that almost everyone you meet is going to try and lie or get around you. It affects your people skills. While this is not an excuse just an explanation. The item in bold did hurt a little. :eek:

Oh ad some of us are just plain A**holes. :D

[webjeep]

We have a few ATF guys who work with us from time to time. I like all of them, they are good guys and will not only help you when you need it, but come out and ride regularly to stay in touch. I have never had a problem with them not sharing info, and have often had them call me or come out to ride with me to look for people. The only thing that I wish were a little better is getting stuff put into NCIC. I have had a couple of people that I hooked on minor stuff or that the retarded magistrate released on bond only to find out the next day that they had fed indictments.

My impression of the agency is so good that I'm trying to get on board. I worked with a few other ATF guys in NOVA and they seemed pretty much the same. THe only other's I've dealt with were FBI and I'd say about 50/50 on them. I had a guy I hooked with a gun who wound up getting a DNA hit on some robberies/B&E's (banks/teller machines) that the FBI did and they were cool then. Other times they've seemed a bit condescending.

I try not to judge, but if I had a choice of who to work with I think that my answer is evident.

[Cat_Doc]

The item in bold did hurt a little.

Well, if you had been a street cop prior to going BP I am sure it would show when you stopped to assist! :D

A couple of our deputies went BP after a few years on. I am sure not ALL of them are like that.

When I was in homicide not too long ago, dispatch called me and said BP had come across a truck, with it's engine and lights on, idling about 30 feet off the edge of the road. BP reported it as a homicide, stating it looked like someone shot the guy in the head while he was driving.

It took me about an hour to get dressed and get to the scene. One deputy and about six or seven BP units were there. The area around the driver's and passenger's door was totally annihilated for any possible suspect foot prints, as every BP and his brother had to go up and look at the DRT.

The BP that found the vehicle was all excited to tell me his theory. He went on to tell me it must have been road rage because the DRT had a gun in his left hand. The BP theorized that the DRT was getting to ready to defend himself against someone who shot him while they were driving down the road. The BP pointed out, accurately, I must say, that the tire tracks of the truck indicated the truck had been traveling at a good rate of speed, north bound, went off the right shoulder, struck some large cacti, then veered to the left, crossing left of center and coming to it's resting spot in the desert on the other side of the road.

He also pointed out the high velocity blood spatter on the inside passenger door window. A bunch of the other BP guys were nodding their heads in approval at this theory.

Now, I was trying my best not to sound like a smart *** as I asked the BP theory guy if he thought the DRT had rolled up the driver's window after he got shot? You should have seen the look on their faces.

When I first scanned the scene, I had come to the conclusion the driver had committed suicide via self inflicted GSW while driving down the road. High velocity blood spatter/misting could be seen on the barrel of the gun and on the DRT's hand. All the windows in the truck were rolled up. No round had passed through the window or vehicle frame.

This was later substantiated by interview with the NOK who stated the DRT had just been found out on an "illicit affair", grabbed his gun and left the house.

It turned out okay, though, as I took the time to give a bunch of them some OJT on blood spatter/patterning interpretation. ;) They really got into that.

[Big Sexy]

It turned out okay, though, as I took the time to give a bunch of them some OJT on blood spatter/patterning interpretation. ;) They really got into that.

Show off. :D

[Cat_Doc]

Show off. :D

Had to do something waiting for the transport to get there.

Those guys really did get into it, though.

And, I not once voiced my displeasure at all the boot prints around the vehicle. Kept that to myself. :p