Most people holding the title of "special agent" are LEOs under state and/or federal law (with some also being dual intelligence operatives such as with the FBI).
These LEOs are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations, and hold arrest authority.
Within the U.S. government, the title of Special Agent primarily designates the Criminal Investigator GS-1811 series position.
The title "Assistant Special Agent in Charge" and its acronym "ASAC" (/ˈeɪsæk/) are stated frequently throughout the TV series Breaking Bad.
In Season 5, Hank – who is proud to have been promoted to the job vacated by his ousted boss – repeatedly chants "ASAC Schrader" to his baby niece Holly.
[citation needed] In the TV series Criminal Minds several of the Behavioral Analysis Unit members are Supervisory Special Agents.
In the TV series The X-Files, the title "Special Agent" is given to both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
[citation needed] The main character from the TV series Twin Peaks, is FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, and also, other FBI special agents make numerous cameos throughout the series, and its prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
"Dick Barton - Special Agent" was the subject of radio programs in the 1940s and later TV and film productions.