RetFed blog intro
I read a line from in a novel from one of my fav crime writers who called the FBI Special in Agent in Charge, the "Sac." It is the DEA who refers to the Special in Agent as the "Sac" while the FBI term is S-A-C. I can't say I was crushed but that one line caused a crimalus interruptus in the story.
As a retired fed (RetFed) with 23 years in the FBI and 10 years as an FBI Senior Financial Investigator whose passion is writing, I have created this blog to assist writers in avoiding such story-stopping moments.
The genre, be it the police procedural, mystery, cozy, thriller, hard boiled, benefits greatly from a variety of well-placed writing skills. That said, an errant procedure or terminology faux pas will bring a great story to its knees.
As a retired FBI Special Agent, (answer to the question "What makes you so damn special, agent?' from the cocky defense attorney on cross examination, is, "Congress.") I am in a position to fill in those annoying ***** currently being used as your place holders.
Though I am not authorized to discuss trade craft or specific cases, pending or closed, I will be of use for that scene or that character where the authentic terminology, proper investigative procedures, federal court procedures/terminology, chain of command, use of task force officers, evidence handling, interrogation techniques, undercover operations, wiretapping laws, as well as the care and feeding of a fed, will be essential in creating your story.
And though my knowledge is on the federal level, I have worked alongside numerous local, county, and state law enforcement agencies. So if the answer is not on the tip of my keypad, I'll find it. After all, I'm with the federal government and I'm here to help you.
As a retired fed (RetFed) with 23 years in the FBI and 10 years as an FBI Senior Financial Investigator whose passion is writing, I have created this blog to assist writers in avoiding such story-stopping moments.
The genre, be it the police procedural, mystery, cozy, thriller, hard boiled, benefits greatly from a variety of well-placed writing skills. That said, an errant procedure or terminology faux pas will bring a great story to its knees.
As a retired FBI Special Agent, (answer to the question "What makes you so damn special, agent?' from the cocky defense attorney on cross examination, is, "Congress.") I am in a position to fill in those annoying ***** currently being used as your place holders.
Though I am not authorized to discuss trade craft or specific cases, pending or closed, I will be of use for that scene or that character where the authentic terminology, proper investigative procedures, federal court procedures/terminology, chain of command, use of task force officers, evidence handling, interrogation techniques, undercover operations, wiretapping laws, as well as the care and feeding of a fed, will be essential in creating your story.
And though my knowledge is on the federal level, I have worked alongside numerous local, county, and state law enforcement agencies. So if the answer is not on the tip of my keypad, I'll find it. After all, I'm with the federal government and I'm here to help you.
A few words about the FBI organizational structure:
ReplyDeleteFBIHQ is run by the Director (called “The Director”). Appointed by the President for a 10 year term, his/her direct supervisor in the US Attorney General (called the Attorney General). The FBI Director is NOT a cabinet position.
FBIHQ is staffed by FBI career professionals (except for a few civilian appointees who hold admin and legal positions). These career professionals included Section Chiefs, and Unit Chiefs. who are the HQ persons closest to the field agents as they are responsible the investigative units that support the field. Most of these chiefs have experience in the field. That said, they are administrative and support positions who do NOT conduct the actual investigations. Though it is not unusual for the chiefs or their assistants to come out to the field to assist. Conflict arises (and that’s what we want, right, conflict) when the sections/units impede the investigation for reasons the case agent finds unnecessary. Add to this the fact that many chiefs have about 7 years in the Bureau (32 -35 years old) where the case agent is the crusty 50 -55 year old. NOTE: like all organizations, the Bureau (often called the “Bu” by employees) will change names of their units/sections regularly. It is important to know this depending on the time period of your story. The good news, most FBI agents use the terms/names interchangeably, using the one they grew up with.
The investigative work is done in the field offices (called “the field” or the “FO” or “Headquarters City”). If the Director is the General of the Army, then the Special Agent in Charge (called the “S-A-C”) of the field office are the Division Commanders.
There are 56 FO’s in US and San Juan. Three field offices, New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles, are headed by Assistant Directors (called “A-Dicks”). The do have SAC’s but they are a level below the ADICS.
FO’s are run by the ADIC or SAC and several Assistant SAC’s (ASAC, called A-Sack”).
Beneath the ASAC is the Supervisory Special Agent (called the “SSA”) who run the squads. Squads consist of Special Agents (called “SA” or simply “agent”). The numbers vary depending on the size of the field office. The SSA is responsible for his/her squad, insuring the SA is doing the job. The SSA, again with 5 to 20 years on the job, has experience, but not always more than the SA. The SSA is insuring the case is being handled timely and in accordance with administrative guidelines.
The FO cannot run all federal case out of the main office, Detroit, for example. Detroit will have Resident Agencies (called “RA”) throughout Michigan. These RA’s run differently than the FO HQ in a number of ways:
- Head of RA is the Supervisory Senior Resident Agent (called the “SSRA”). The SSRA is usually a more experienced SSA.
- Most RA’s have 7 - 10 SA’s.
- Whereas the squad at Headquarters City will work one federal violation (ie Health Care Fraud), the SA’s in the RA will be charged with working all federal violations, though agents will have their own specialties based upon their experience and training. This makes the RA a great work place for your protagonist. Keep in mind, new SA’s will usually be assigned to Headquarters City to gain experience If the new SA was a former police officer or from another Federal agency, they can be assigned directly to an RA.
A word about task forces (TF’s). Of late TF’s have become a go-to strategy for the Bu. Though they’ve been around for decades, after 9/11, they became more needed as the Bu went heavy into Counterterrorism, Thus violent crimes and drugs became less of a priority, lending itself to local, county, state, and other federal agency participation. These officers are deputized with federal arrest powers. TF’s are used for, among others:
- Gangs/drugs/violent crimes
- Identity fraud
- Crimes against Children
- Counterterrorism/Domestic Terrorism
A few words about the FBI Academy:
ReplyDeleteGeneral info can be found at favorite: Wikipedia.
However, writers don’t create worlds with general information so I will provide some insights into life at the Academy.
As a disclaimer, new training requirements and policies, budget constraints, the ever-present government shutdown, needs of the bureau, will constantly change the structure of the academy for New Agent Trainees (NOTE: New Agent, not “cadet” or trainee”).
I attended New Agents Training in 1987 when we were issued a Smith & Wesson Model 13 .357 blue steel revolver and academy length of time was 14 weeks. All my class is long retired, but these differences in training are a longstanding, usually good natured, razzing. Good character points to use in your writing.
Currently, the academy for new agents is approximately 20 weeks. New agents are issued Glock 17M and 19M, 9 mm semiautomatic pistols, after years of using the Glock 22 and 23, 40 caliber semiautomatic pistols. And yes, there are those who got selected, showed up, then announced they didn’t want to shoot or carry a gun.
The FBI has become more liberal in letting agents choose their own weapons once getting in the “field.” These weapons must be approved by and then sent to Quantico to be tested by firearms experts before being issued for use (usually takes several weeks). The agent must then qualify once a quarter with that weapon (and any other weapon they want to possess on the job, ie shotgun, M-4). No way an agent will get away with using an unauthorized weapon, unless you as the writer are looking for a way to jam the agent up.
The academy is a live-in environment where agents are on lock-down for the first few weeks (usually three). After that, they may leave until midnight on weekdays. On weekends, with authorization, they can stay off the academy grounds. Most, though, unless they have family coming in, stay at the academy at Washington Dorm.
What types of issues will keep a new agent from being authorized from leaving the grounds? Failure to pass the Physical Fitness (PT) test, failure to qualify with their weapon, academic deficiencies.
Living arrangements: 2 to a room, 4 to a suite, connected with a bathroom with 1 toilet and 1 shower. Suitemates can get quite close or learn to despise each other. It’s all a matter of typical personal dynamics. Can you change roommates? It has been done but takes more than a few arguments.
Besides the curriculum of that includes fundamentals of law, ethics, behavioral science, interviewing, report writing, investigative and intelligence techniques, interrogation, and forensic science, new agents learn how to manage and run counterterrorism, counterintelligence, weapons of mass destruction, cyber, and criminal investigations.
But PT, defensive tactics, and shooting take up two - four hour blocks, two - three times per week. There are also practical exercises at Hogan’s Alley located behind the academy where PT, defensive tactics, firearms (with simunitions), and other investigative techniques are evaluated. An agent can get tossed for repeated failure to use good judgement.
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Hogan’s Alley has grown a lot since I was there in 1987. Role players are civilians in the area and the action can get feisty to add realism. It offers a great character-developing device. Lots of good pics on the Internet.
Classes are taught by Supervisory Special Agents who volunteer for assignments of about three years. A field counselor, an experienced Special Agent from a field office, lives with the new agents to offer guidance, though teaches no classes.
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Not just New Agent Training at the academy. Check out: https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy
Have a local or foreign police official you want to put in a unique position for meeting other law enforcement, check out the FBI National Academy at: https://www.fbi.gov/services/training-academy/national-academy.
Oh, by the way, Clarice Starling would never have been authorized to investigate a serial killer between classes.