United States

Based on principles embodied in its Constitution, there is no single, national police agency in the United States of America. Instead, a decentralized network of nearly 18,000 different agencies enforces criminal laws according to their respective jurisdiction and mission, which may be local, state, federal or tribal.

Local police and sheriff departments, which make up the majority of national law enforcement agencies, perform traditional functions, including:

• Crime prevention, detection and investigation;
• Criminal incident response;
• Responding to calls for assistance;
• Patrol;
• Arrest of criminal suspects;
• Execution of warrants;
• Traffic control;
• Accident investigation;
• Drug enforcement;
• Crime prevention education.

At federal level, more than 65 separate agencies enforce Congress laws with a view to:

• Fighting organized crime and terrorist networks;
• Conducting foreign intelligence operations;
• Investigating financial and cyber offences;
• Tackling child exploitation and trafficking in human beings;
• Tackling drug trafficking;
• Preventing the smuggling of illicit goods;
• Controlling borders and maintaining national security.

INTERPOL Washington

Domestic Focus…International Reach

The National Central Bureau (NCB) for the United States of America is the unique designated INTERPOL point of contact, acting on behalf of the Attorney General, the chief law enforcement officer of the United States.

INTERPOL Washington supports US law enforcement agencies and other INTERPOL member countries who seek assistance in criminal investigations which go beyond national borders. INTERPOL Washington coordinates national law enforcement action and response, ensuring that it is consistent with national interests and law, as well as with INTERPOL policies, procedures, and regulations.

INTERPOL Washington is composed of a multi-sector workforce which includes full-time employees, contractors, and personnel seconded from more than 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The staff includes senior criminal investigators, analysts, attorneys, information technology specialists and administrative support personnel.

Organization

At the core of INTERPOL Washington’s criminal investigative support activities is the Operations and Command Center (IOCC). It provides a permanent communications interface between domestic and international law enforcement partners, as well as support to its operational divisions, namely:

• Alien / Fugitive Division;
• Counterterrorism Division;
• Drugs Division;
• Economic Crimes Division;
• Human Trafficking and Child Protection Division;
• State and Local Liaison Division;
• Violent Crimes Division.

Strategic Goals

INTERPOL Washington has developed four strategic goals to promote cooperation and support to its national law enforcement community and foreign counterparts:

• Combat transnational crime and terrorism;
• Strengthen the security of America’s borders;
• Facilitate international law enforcement cooperation and partnerships;
• Cultivate and develop America’s workforce, management, and operations.

These goals are in keeping with the strategic priorities of Americas Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and INTERPOL.  They reflect the investigative interests of partner law enforcement agencies, and provide the framework for international investigative assistance that is critical to preventing and solving transnational crime.

Agencies represented at INTERPOL Washington

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives;
• Capitol Police;
• Citizenship and Immigration Service;
• Coast Guard;
• Customs and Border Protection;
• Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps;
• Department of Homeland Security;
• Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations;
• Department of State;
• Drug Enforcement Administration;
• Environmental Protection Agency;
• Federal Bureau of Investigation;
• Fish and Wildlife Service;
• Food and Drug Administration;
• Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General;
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
• Internal Revenue Service;
• Marshals Service;
• New York Police Department;
• Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office;
• Postal Inspection Service;
• Secret Service.

“Tribal police are officers hired by native American tribes which have a constitutional government on Reservations.  They work closely with local, state, and federal police agencies”