Law Enforcement. Just writing the two words together brings back old memories of TV shows featuring a grizzled detective smoking a large cigar. I picture Martin Lawrence and Will Smith blowing up half of Miami in their attempts to catch the bad guys. In reality, none of this is true. None of this even shines a candle on the true work of law enforcement officers. It is the most underrated, thankless, and poorly portrayed career in the world. A federal law enforcement position takes more time and dedication than any other law enforcement job in the world. It is my hope to shed some light on what a federal law enforcement officer really does, and for my purposes, I am using the specific career of FBI Special Agent.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation began its mission in 1908 when the first director was appointed. Since that time, it has become the primary investigative division for the United States government. The FBI is responsible for enforcing over 260 federal statutes, and also for conducting investigations pertaining to National Security. In recent years, and with the events of September 11, 2001, the FBI’s mission has doubled. (more…)