Whether it’s providing special security coverage for a NATO summit or making criminal busts for illegal tobacco and weapons trafficking, ATF Agents in Kentucky are up to the job. Statistics on firearms alone shows that agents in the state have one of the highest rates of seizure in the nation for machine guns.
Louisville is the site of over half of all illegal firearm seizures in the state, and when combined with Lexington the two cities account for more than three-quarters of the total. Agents who have met the basic requirements and made it through the rigorous training and application process will be ready to accept their first assignment based out of one of several field offices:
- 1040 Monarch Street in Lexington
- 600 Drive Martin Luther King Junior Place in Louisville
- 1405 Greenup Avenue in Ashland
- 990 Wilkinson Trace in Bowling Green
- Covington Satellite Office in Independence
- London Satellite Office
- 4625 Falconcrest Drive in Paducah
Basic Requirements for ATF Jobs
When considering how to become an ATF Agent in Kentucky, one of the more popular routes is by earning a bachelor’s degree in one of the following subjects. Not only does this fulfill the four-year degree requirement, these majors combined with a good academic record confer eligibility for a higher rank and pay:
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Sociology
Ensuring a candidate is in compliance with the basic requirements for ATF jobs is also mandatory, and includes:
- Being a US citizen between the ages of 21-36, with exceptions for federal police and veterans
- Being able to obtain a top secret security clearance
- Having a valid driver’s license
- Being in good physical shape
Completing the Application and Training Process
Beginning the application process can start by registering with the Bureau to receive announcements about job vacancies. When an opening is announced, applicants can go on the USA Jobs website to make an online bid. Completing the following assessments is also part of the process:
- ATF Special Agent Application Questionnaire
- ATF Special Agent Exam
- ATF Special Agent Applicant Assessment Test
- ATF Pre-Employment Physical Task Test
Training for ATF jobs is completed in two phases totaling 27 weeks, and includes instruction in:
- Alcohol and tobacco diversion investigations
- Driving and suspect apprehension techniques
- Suspect and witness interviewing
- Explosives and fire investigations
- Undercover and sting operations
- Crime scene management
- Firearms
All in a Day’s Work in Kentucky
The nature of ATF jobs in Kentucky can rapidly change from one investigation to the next. Lives depend on agents being alert and prepared every day, with some recent examples of notable operations including:
- A Kentucky ATF Explosives Detection K-9 Unit was recently deployed to Chicago to secure the area as part of a recent NATO summit. Kentucky K-9 Units are often deployed to locations throughout the country, with another recent assignment being the Republican National Convention.
- A cigarette smuggling ring from Saint Louis, Missouri to Louisville was recently dismantled by ATF Agents, who gathered enough evidence to convict its participants on charges relating to their scheme which saw $12.5 million in untaxed cigarettes being sold at locations throughout Kentucky.
- A two-year ATF operation focusing on Paducah and McCracken County was recently topped off with a sweep and arrest of upper-level drug dealers, with the total of indicted suspects reaching 33. A combined effort between the ATF’s Louisville Field Division, Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement Special Investigations, and the Paducah Police Department, the operation severely disrupted a major cocaine distribution ring while recovering 20 firearms.