Department of Defense Police

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Department of Defense Police are the uniformed civilian security police departments of the United States Department of Defense or various branches of the United States Armed Forces. They are also referred to as DoD Police. The DoD Police is responsible for law enforcement and security services on DoD owned and leased buildings, facilities, properties and other DoD assets.

The DoD police fall into two general categories:

  • 1. They may fall under a functional directorate of the United States Department of Defense, such as the Defense Logistics Agency Police, and
  • 2. They may fall under the various armed forces branches and or their subordinate activities, such as the DoD Army or DoD Navy Police. Others may be installation based such as the Fort Hunter-Ligget Police.

There is a DoD police agency based at the Pentagon named the United States Pentagon Police, which is part of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. Formerly The Defense Protective Service (DPS), The United States Pentagon Police have exclusive jurisdiction within the Pentagon Reservation and have concurrent jurisdiction with other police agencies (state, county, & local) in an area of approximately 280 acres around the complex. U.S. Pentagon police officers also hold concurrent jurisdiction at DoD leased property throughout the National Capital Region, at the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington D.C., and various other properties throughout the NCR. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Arlington County, U.S. Pentagon Police Officers also possess authority, to enforce laws while on duty in Arlington County, Alexandria, the District of Columbia, and various other areas throughout the National Capital Region. Additionally, they are charged with the protection of various Department of Defense executive officers and VIP's.

The Department of Defense Guard, Department of the Army (DA) Police, or Department of the Army Guard are examples of other DoD Army police. The police officers' peacetime duties are the same as those of civilian police officers, namely to enforce the laws of the United States military in the form of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and the regulations of their particular installation. The civilian guards' duties are normally restricted to protection of priority resources.

Contents

[edit] Authority

DoD Police law enforcement personnel derive their law enforcement authority from Section 1315 of Title 40 (40 USC 1315), along with Titles 5, 10, and 18 of the United States Code; as delegated by the Secretary of the Department of Defense.

40 USC 1315: The Secretary may designate employees of the Department of Defense, as officers and agents for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the Department Of Defense and persons on the property, including duty in areas outside the property to the extent necessary to protect the property and persons on the property.

Powers. - While engaged in the performance of official duties, an officer or agent designated under this subsection may -

(A) enforce Federal laws and regulations for the protection of persons and property;

(B) carry firearms, on and off duty;

(C) make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of the officer or agent or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the officer or agent has reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a felony;

(D) serve warrants and subpoenas issued under the authority of the United States;

(E) conduct investigations, on and off the property in question, of offenses that may have been committed against property owned or occupied by the Federal Government or persons on the property; and

(F) carry out such other activities for the promotion of homeland security as the Secretary may prescribe.

[edit] Uniforms and armament

The uniform worn by DoD Police officers are identical to that of civil police, apart from insignia. All officers are trained to use firearms and are armed at all times. DOD Federal Police Officers are armed with M-16 assault rifles, H&K MP5, and various 9mm or .40 cal pistols. They are also equipped with gas launchers, shotguns, ASP batons, OC Spray, shields and other riot gear.

[edit] Department of Defense Police and Investigative agencies

[edit] References

v • d • e
Agencies under the United States Department of Defense
Headquarters: The Pentagon
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense United States Department of Defense Seal
Under Secretary of Defense
for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller
Under Secretary of Defense
for Personnel and Readiness
Defense Commissary Agency · Department of Defense Education Activity · DoD Human Resources Activity · Military Health System · Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences · Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute · Office of the Chancellor for Education and Professional Development
Under Secretary of Defense
for Intelligence
Military Departments

[edit] See also