American Law Enforcement: Difference between revisions

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[[File:oU7M4_9695.jpg|frame|[[Donut Mess ~~With~~ a Cop|What, no donuts?]]]]

[[File:oU7M4_9695.jpg|frame|[[Donut Mess with a Cop|What, no donuts?]]]]

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We are about to dive into the topic of police agencies. Unlike some [[British Coppers|police forces]], pretty much all of the law enforcement agencies in the US issue firearms to their officers. Every member of every agency listed after this has a gun strapped on. ''All'' of them. Track that.

While marked police cars in most countries run the gamut from minicars to near-exotic sports models, American cops favor big, preferably rear-drive and V8-powered sedans; for the past decade more than ''ninety percent'' have been Ford Crown Victorias (Police Interceptor model)- [[Everybody Owns a Ford]] as almost literal [[Truth in Television]]. However, in recent years, the new Dodge Charger has become a real competitor to the Crown Vic, due to it being more powerful, maneuverable, comfortable, and notably, not a 30-year-old design. Also, in many northern states, the Chevy Impala have become a common sight, due to the fact that it has front-wheel drive - not as [[Badass]] as rear-wheel drive, but much more useful for driving in six inches or more of snow. Oh, and it's also more fuel efficient than the heavy Crown Vic and the big-engined Charger. Currently, the Charger is used mostly for highway patrol duties, while the Crown Vic and the Impala are used for nearly everything else. The Crown Victoria is being phased out after the 2012 model year, however, and replaced by a new-model Ford Taurus. Some K9 units (not [[Doctor Who ~~(TV)~~|that one]]) use SUVs instead. Since a K9 team is one human officer and one trained police dog, they need a little more legroom. Those vehicles normally have the same paint job as regular police cars, but with an added silhouette of a dog's head.

While marked police cars in most countries run the gamut from minicars to near-exotic sports models, American cops favor big, preferably rear-drive and V8-powered sedans; for the past decade more than ''ninety percent'' have been Ford Crown Victorias (Police Interceptor model)- [[Everybody Owns a Ford]] as almost literal [[Truth in Television]]. However, in recent years, the new Dodge Charger has become a real competitor to the Crown Vic, due to it being more powerful, maneuverable, comfortable, and notably, not a 30-year-old design. Also, in many northern states, the Chevy Impala have become a common sight, due to the fact that it has front-wheel drive - not as [[Badass]] as rear-wheel drive, but much more useful for driving in six inches or more of snow. Oh, and it's also more fuel efficient than the heavy Crown Vic and the big-engined Charger. Currently, the Charger is used mostly for highway patrol duties, while the Crown Vic and the Impala are used for nearly everything else. The Crown Victoria is being phased out after the 2012 model year, however, and replaced by a new-model Ford Taurus. Some K9 units (not [[Doctor Who|that one]]) use SUVs instead. Since a K9 team is one human officer and one trained police dog, they need a little more legroom. Those vehicles normally have the same paint job as regular police cars, but with an added silhouette of a dog's head.

== Local Police ==

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Naturally, this doesn't apply when the Staties are actually the heroes (e.g., ''CHiPs''), in which case expect a lot of car chases.

A common situation in some smaller states is to give the Staties primary responsibility for most homicide investigations. For example, the Massachusetts State Police handles all homicides occurring outside of Boston, Springfield, and Worcester (sorry, Jesse Stone). In Maine, the Staties investigate homicides occurring outside of Bangor, Portland, and [[Murder She Wrote|Cabot Cove]].

A common situation in some smaller states is to give the Staties primary responsibility for most homicide investigations. For example, the Massachusetts State Police handles all homicides occurring outside of Boston, Springfield, and Worcester (sorry, Jesse Stone). In Maine, the Staties investigate homicides occurring outside of Bangor, Portland, and [[Murder, She Wrote|Cabot Cove]].

Some states have multiple statewide police agencies. For example, the Texas Highway Patrol handles the traffic tickets and the car chases with the aid of [[Airwolf|cute helicopter pilots]], while the Texas Rangers are in charge of investigations and [[Walker Texas Ranger|roundhouse kicks]]. Up until the mid-1990s, California had a State Police separate from the Highway Patrol. The small agency guarded the governor and patroled state parks, DMV offices, etc. The Highway Patrol has assumed those duties. Most states typically also have separate fish and game agencies intended to protect the state's wildlife and enforce hunting, fishing, and conservation laws.

Some states have multiple statewide police agencies. For example, the Texas Highway Patrol handles the traffic tickets and the car chases with the aid of [[Airwolf|cute helicopter pilots]], while the Texas Rangers are in charge of investigations and [[Walker, Texas Ranger|roundhouse kicks]]. Up until the mid-1990s, California had a State Police separate from the Highway Patrol. The small agency guarded the governor and patroled state parks, DMV offices, etc. The Highway Patrol has assumed those duties. Most states typically also have separate fish and game agencies intended to protect the state's wildlife and enforce hunting, fishing, and conservation laws.

One often overlooked but major type of law enforcement agency that also operates at the state level is the corrections department that operates the [[American Prisons|state's prisons]]. Obviously, they have jurisdiction over prisons, which have the highest concentration of criminals, but these departments often also are responsible for managing convicted felons on probation or parole, and investigating criminal activities that are taking place both inside and outside prisons (e.g.: gang activity). This makes these very active and busy agencies, and often surprisingly large (the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, for example, is actually the second-largest law enforcement agency in the United States after the NYPD, not that most anyone would know this).

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== ATF ==

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (abbreviated ATF or BATFE) handles [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]. One of its predecessor agencies, the Bureau of Prohibition, was home to Eliot Ness's "Untouchables."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (abbreviated ATF or BATFE) handles [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]. One of its predecessor agencies, the Bureau of Prohibition, was home to Eliot Ness's "Untouchables."

Started out in the Treasury Department (hence references to Ness & co as "T-Men" in stories, or at least in [[Crossword Puzzle|Crossword Puzzles]]), but currently under DOJ. (Somehow "J-Men" hasn't really caught on.)

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== DEA ==

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is also [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]. The DEA is unique in that it also administers and tracks doctors' authority to prescribe legal drugs as well as both drug trafficking inside the USA and overt and covert actions in foreign nations. It is the only organization besides the CIA that generally does undercover actions in other nations, and is the only organization period that can do that ''and'' work domestic issues. It is the only civilian agency anywhere in the world that flies helicopter gunships. Also under DOJ. DEA does a lot of work on "source control" of precursor chemicals used to make or refine drugs, as well as a lot of undercover work.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is also [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]. The DEA is unique in that it also administers and tracks doctors' authority to prescribe legal drugs as well as both drug trafficking inside the USA and overt and covert actions in foreign nations. It is the only organization besides the CIA that generally does undercover actions in other nations, and is the only organization period that can do that ''and'' work domestic issues. It is the only civilian agency anywhere in the world that flies helicopter gunships. Also under DOJ. DEA does a lot of work on "source control" of precursor chemicals used to make or refine drugs, as well as a lot of undercover work.

In fiction, these guys have a strong chance of going rogue because of all the drug money flying around.

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== Customs and Immigration ==

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]. It used to be a few separate agencies, but they've been merged, split, and shuffled around a lot in the last few years. Right now they're in Homeland Security, but check back in a couple minutes. It may also be referred to by Spanish-speakers (and Spanish-speaking characters) as "La Migra", a nickname inherited from the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The previous agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), was abolished with the passage of the Homeland Security Act in 2002. It is, however, a [[Discredited Trope]] since many works of fiction continue to use the name.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is also [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]. It used to be a few separate agencies, but they've been merged, split, and shuffled around a lot in the last few years. Right now they're in Homeland Security, but check back in a couple minutes. It may also be referred to by Spanish-speakers (and Spanish-speaking characters) as "La Migra", a nickname inherited from the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The previous agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), was abolished with the passage of the Homeland Security Act in 2002. It is, however, a [[Discredited Trope]] since many works of fiction continue to use the name.

The Border Patrol is actually part of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency that's separate from ICE because they have slightly different missions CBP works mainly at the border and at border crossings. They are also charged with preventing illegal things from crossing the border whereas ICE is responsible for dealing with contraband and illegal entrants after they have crossed.

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NCIS is a primarily civilian agency that reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy, who is a civilian appointed by the President, and is thus outside both the Navy and Marine Corps chain of command. However, NCIS works closely with Marine Corps and Navy personnel serving as military police and naval security forces, as well as with civilians who serve as law enforcement officers at some naval installations. Obviously, due to its relationship with the naval service, it frequently operates abroad as well, often performing investigations and security evaluations of foreign ports that US ships might call to.

[[NCIS ~~(TV)~~|Unlike in fiction]], it's not that exciting. [[Perky Goth]] quotient is unclear.

[[NCIS|Unlike in fiction]], it's not that exciting. [[Perky Goth]] quotient is unclear.

== Air Marshals ==