Federal Police force patrolling our streets?

[ChenZhen]

While on vacation, driving by Newberg Oregon, I saw something I haven't ever seen before. It was a white Tahoe police patrol vehicle (driving on the road alongside me for some distance).

But what I found odd about it, was that it had a huge Homeland Security logo on it. By the Homeland security logo, it said "Federal Protective Service Police". The back of it said "Police" and it had the number for the FPS.

I really wasn't even aware we had a federal police service (I am rather aprehensive about the idea), and I was not at all aware that they would be driving around small Oregon towns. Im also bothered by the idea that it was a patrol car (rather than an unmarked vehicle). Patrol cars are clearly marked for many psychological reasons, but normally represent state and local municipalities. Normally the federal government doesn't spend money to make a car clearly let everyone know their police force is present.

Anyway, after looking up the phone number, I saw: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Protective_Service

The Tahoe was painted the same way for the most part.

"Its personnel have full law enforcement authority to respond to criminal incidents and emergencies. Formerly, under the General Services Administration FPS officers police authority was limited to federal property under Title 40 USC, section 318. With the move to Homeland and ICE both the limit of FPS police authority and the supporting US code were changed to reflect the agency's changing role. Under Title 40 USC, section 1315 (part of the Homeland security act of 2002) the agency was given full police powers on and off federal property as well as authority to enter into agreements with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to pursue non-federal criminal offenses."

So, with the onset of Homeland Security, this police force that was established to protect Federal buildings is now given full jurisdiction over all of this country ("full police powers on and off federal property").

I guess this division is also used for immigration enforcement now too (rediverting homeland security funds to this separate job).

I don't know...a Federal *police* force makes me uncomfortable. Especially with certain presidential directives regarding national emergencies.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Were they brownshirts

or did they wear the death's head?

[bottomofthehill]

2. No need to worry

this is not new, just renamed. They were the GSA police and are charged with protecting public buildings. They were rolled into homeland security after 9/11

[ChenZhen]

3. And thats worrisome about the change

Because it takes a police force in charge of protecting federal buildings and gives them a new role of patrolling off-federal land. Just like the wiki article I posted, it mentioned they now have jurisdiction basically everywhere.

"Under Title 40 USC, section 1315 (part of the Homeland security act of 2002) the agency was given full police powers on and off federal property as well as authority to enter into agreements with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to pursue non-federal criminal offenses."

Being renamed is a bit different than expanding their duties and authority to state controlled areas.

[EFerrari]

4. Welcome to DU, ChenZhen.

That's really creepy. :scared:

[Cogito ergo doleo]

5. A nationalized federal police force was mentioned by G. Norquist

in an interview on PBS, as one of the *only* three "services" the new federal government will provide. The other services were a defense department, and courts to settle property rights.