Federal Law Enforcement Jobs

Chose the Career that Fits your Dreams

Federal Law Enforcement Jobs - Where to Start?

1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms

This agency focuses on criminal investigations, regulating firearm and explosive industries as well as related law enforcement agencies. The goal of the agency is to prevent terrorism, reduce violent crime and protect the public. Within this agency, you could pursue a career as special agent, investigator or professional and technical support. Read on to find out more details about these exciting federal law enforcement jobs.

Special agents focus on investigating criminal violations of federal laws, violations related to explosives, firearms, arson, and alcohol. In this position you would prepare criminal investigative case reports, testify in court, as well as analyze evidence from a number of different cases. Special agents conduct surveillance; obtain search and arrest warrants, interview witnesses, conduct arrests and search for physical evidence.

2. Drug Enforcement Agency

Within this agency, you could pursue a career as a special agent, intelligence research specialist, as well as forensic chemist, division or technology investigator.

As a special agent, you would be tasked with becoming the premier federal drug law enforcement agent. To apply for this type of position, you must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 36 at the time of employment. A degree in criminal justice, police science, finance, accounting or economics is preferred; however it is in no way a requirement.

In addition to a college degree, be prepared to attend a basic agent training program that will focus on skills such as undercover, surveillance and arrest techniques, defensive tactics, firearm training as well as report writing, law and drug identification.

Finally, a very tasking physical fitness program will be utilized to assess your overall fitness and ability to perform the job up to required standards. Starting salary for DEA agents is between $49,746 and $55,483, depending on education and experience. After about 4 years, the salary can be as much as $92,592.

As a research specialist you would be involved in collecting and analyzing documents, surveillance reports, wiretaps and other sources. Intelligence research specialist participates in complex research projects in areas of drug cultivation, trafficking and transportation. In this role you would present and work closely with case agents, supervisory personnel, US Attorney, grand juries, and higher level decision makers. Like most federal law enforcement jobs, this is an extremely rewarding career as you will directly combat drug trafficking, violent crime and terrorism.

Skills required for these federal law enforcement jobs include ability to plan and organize information, communicate orally and in writing, analyze information, identify significant factors, gather data and develop solutions.

As a forensic chemist you would analyze many different types of evidence, provide expert testimony in courts, conduct research as well as develop intelligence data used to determine trends in drug trafficking. A large part of this job entails working closely and providing support to special agents, task force officers, and division investigators. Additionally, you would work closely and collaborate with other international, federal, state and industrial organizations with the goal of exchanging information on drugs and drug practices. 3. Federal Air Marshal Service

This federal agency is tasked with securing America’s civil aviation system from both criminal and terrorism acts. It is a law enforcement entity within the Transportation Security Administration. In order to bring a great level of security to the skies, this agency has a number of programs. The armed security officer program specializes in training officers to fly on board regular aircraft carriers. The canine and explosive detections unit prepares canines to be future explosive detection dogs. The crew member self-defense program provides self-defense training to crew members who volunteer for this type of training.

Federal air marshals are responsible for detecting, deterring, and defeating hostile acts targeting US air carriers, airports, passengers and crew. In this position, you would have a critical role in homeland security and you would be required to work closely with other law enforcement agencies. Training for this career includes handgun accuracy, investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft special tactics as well as self defense measures.

4. Federal Bureau of Investigation

Within this agency you could pursue a career as a special agent as well as crime science expert, laboratory technician, fingerprint expert and computer scientist. The FBI deals with issues of national security as well as criminal violations. If you are interested in national security you could focus on counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber crime. If you prefer to focus on criminal issues you could specialize in areas of public corruption, civil rights, organized crime, major theft and violet crime as well as white collar crime.

FBI special agents are responsible for enforcing federal statutes and for leading sensitive national security investigations. As a special agent you could work on issues and problems such as counterterrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, organized crime, white collar crime, public corruption, civil rights violations, financial crime, extortion, kidnapping, air piracy drug-trafficking matters and other violations of federal law. This career path is very exciting, demanding and unpredictable. If you like change and uncertainty, then you will enjoy the fact that special agents testify in court one day and gathering evidence and surveying a crime scene the next.

Aside from special agents, this agency provides vast career opportunities to a wide range of professionals. Professional staff have careers in intelligence analysis, laboratory science, linguistics, security, information technology, human resources, general management and applied science, engineering and technology. Other career opportunities include skills in public relations, graphic arts, logistics and firearms training. Given the wide scope of the mission of this agency, the number of career opportunities is quite impressive.

As you can see, the number of federal law enforcement jobs is quite impressive and we only touched the surface here. If you are interested in federal positions, start by identifying your career goals and finding the appropriate federal agency where your career goals can be realized.

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