In the United States of America, there exist two levels of police. These levels are Federal level and state level. In the Federal level to Start with, there a number of policing bodies and these include Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of investigations (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives (ATF), Unites States Marshalls Service. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also another section of the federal security. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Secret Service (USSS), Transport Security Administration (TSA) among others report to the Department of Homeland Security.In the State level, we have some departments like State Police, State Patrol and the Highway Patrol.
These initials stand for National Association of Police Organizations. These are all policing organizations from all over the United States of America. Formed in 1978, now it is the body with the strongest voice as far as supporting the law enforcement officers is concerned.
The organizations that form the federal level of policing draw their powers from Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. The federal investigative powers have become very broad and extensive pursuant to the passage of the United States Patriotic Act. It is important to note that all these bodies falling under the federal level of policing are highly restricted by the laws of the United States. In this regard, they can only probe the federal matters that directly affect the federal law of the States. The Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives and the Unites States Marshalls Service operate under the Department of Justice. Their function is law enforcement at the federal level. Let us take an example of the FBI. The core functions of this body are as follows:
1. Safeguarding the United states from violent attacks high-technology criminal activities as well as terrorism
2. Spearheading the fight against all forms of illegality and corruption at all levels of the state
3. Spearheading the crusades advocating for human rights and freedoms
4. Working towards catching up with high technologies so as to be able to deal with the enemies of the state
Most of the bodies in the state level of policing provide law enforcement services, which include but are not limited to investigations and state controls. County Sheriffs have their jurisdiction in jails and areas that are not within the city. They responsible for enforcing the city mandates. All state policing bodies are under the state penal code.
From the above, we notice that the security of the state happens at both the federal and the state level. It is important to note that without proper coordination of the state and the federal levels of security, adequate state security is not achievable. Further, we see that for laws and order maintenance in all sectors of the state, then the two levels of state security must be in working harmony.
