Department of Defense police
DoD police law enforcement officers, while being federal employees, are not members of the military.
Civilians, including law enforcement officers (LEOs), of the MCIOs are not considered "DoD police."
As there is no singular DoD police agency proper, personnel are typically assigned to and organized by individual military installations.
Each department is quasi-autonomous and the DoD police are overseen and managed by the Chief of the Law Enforcement Division within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.
"[3] In a further effort to mirror attempts occurring across the United States aiming to enhance oversight, promote transparency, and ensure accountability, the 117th Congress passed the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 on 29 December 2022.
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) may utilize DoN Police personnel, but on USMC-centric installations, United States Marine Corps Civilian Police personnel provide the primary law enforcement presence.
Such specialities include police K-9 handlers, Special Reaponse Team (SRT or "SWAT") operators,[10] conservation law enforcement officers (game wardens), traffic accident investigators, school resource officers (assigned to schools on military installations), and as detectives and criminal investigators.
For instance, the PFPA has far more autonomy than other DoD police agencies in their selection and use of uniforms and equipment, in addition to having its own dedicated chain-of-command.
Any authority they may exercise off-property is strictly controlled by “memorandums of understanding” with the relevant surrounding civilian law enforcement agencies.
As of the publication of DoD Instruction 5525.12 in 2014,[12] qualified DoD LEOs and personnel of the various military police agencies fall under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, permitting them to carry a concealed firearm off-duty across the United States, regardless of most state and local laws, with some exceptions.
Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) are established in agreement with either the city police chief, or the local sheriff vary with every DoD facility.
[14] This occupational series code applies regardless of what specific agency of the Department of Defense the officer works for.
One major function of a DoD police officer is to conduct law enforcement and force protection duties.
This often takes the form of ensuring that only authorized personnel access the installation by performing identification checks at fixed entry control points (ECP).
Officers at fixed posts ensure that all entry requirements have been met before allowing an individual to proceed.
DoD police officers also respond to all calls for law enforcement assistance or service that take place within or surrounding the installations and federal property.
If the crime is found to be a major felony, then the matter is generally referred to the special agents of the applicable investigative agency (NCIS, Army CID, OSI, FBI, etc.).
4310 which clarifies in section 1089 that DoD civilian police are qualified law enforcement officers and may legally carry concealed weapons across the nation.
For certain assignments DoD police officers are required to obtain and maintain a "Secret" security clearance.
Whether or not a candidate has to attend a DoD academy (see "Training" section below) depends on both the installation and the prior law enforcement experience of the applying individual.
[citation needed]CINC 5530.14 DoD agencies, including Pentagon Police and Defense Logistics Agency Police, send their officers to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) certified academies in Glynco, Georgia.
DoD officers carry a firearm, typically a M9 Beretta, spare ammunition, pepper spray, a police baton (typically an expandable ASP), a taser, handcuffs, radio, latex gloves, and other commonly seen police equipment.
