The United States Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest and most versatile federal law enforcement agency.

Since 1789, federal marshals have served the nation through a variety of vital law enforcement activities. Ninety-four U.S. marshals, appointed by the president or the U.S. Attorney General, direct the activities of 94 district offices and personnel stationed at more than 350 locations throughout the 50 states, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Each district, and the District of Columbia Superior Court, is headed by a U.S. Marshal.

The Marshals Service’s headquarters are located in the Washington, D.C. area and comes under the umbrella of the  United States Justice Department.

The Marshals Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. It is involved in virtually every  federal law enforcement initiative. Approximately 4,800 deputy marshals and career employees perform nationwide, day-to-day missions of investigating serious crime and apprehending the persons who have committed the crimes. The Marshal’s Office not only works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, but international agencies as well, such INTERPOL and other national law enforcement agencies.

It is not necessary that an applicant be an existing law enforcement officer to be qualified to be a U.S. Marshal. Qualified applicants accepted for service will be sent to the Marshal’s Academy and on graduation assigned a duty station. Much of the work in Marshal’s office involves surveillance, investigation and apprehension. In the last year, the Marshals tracked down and captured 37,000 criminals.

As a member of the Regional Task Force, the Marshals are charged with apprehend people who commit violent crimes in the Western States.

Inspector Burke described the Regional Task Force, which was organized through Congressional funding to coordinate the activities of many of the law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

Tony Parrille