The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported in 2008 that 662 federal law enforcement officers named Hawaii as their primary state of employment. The largest number of federal law enforcement agents (235) worked in the area of criminal investigations/enforcement during this time, followed closely by inspections/noncriminal investigations (235) and then corrections/detention (119).
The Hawaii District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office has organized its criminal division into a number of units that allow for better coordination of its federal, state and local resources:
Drug and Organized Crime Section: Includes drug trafficking crimes, organized crime drug trafficking, and related offenses
Fraud and Financial Crimes Section: Includes financial crimes, public corruption, child pornography, cybercrime, identity theft, and environmental offenses
Special Crimes Section: Includes a number of offenses, including non-drug trafficking organized crime, violent crime, civil rights offenses, and national security offenses
The United States Coast Guard is one of the most highly visible federal law enforcement agencies in Hawaii. Recent statistics show that 1,354 active military personnel are stationed in Hawaii, along with 128 military reserve personnel, 144 civilian personnel, 372 auxiliary personnel, and 294 active retired personnel. Coast Guard programs in Hawaii include:
- Maritime security operations
- Maritime law enforcement
- Maritime prevention
- Maritime response
- Defense operations
- Maritime transportation system management
Federal Law Enforcement Education and Training in West Virginia
Individuals often begin their path to a career in federal law enforcement in Hawaii by pursuing a college degree. A four-year bachelor’s degree has become a standard, minimum requirement for employment among many federal law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Marshals, and the Secret Service, among others.
In addition to a college degree program, federal law enforcement jobs typically begin with federal law enforcement training, much of which takes place at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). The FLETC headquarters is located in Glynco, Georgia, although there are training sites in Charleston, West Virginia; Artesia, New Mexico; and Cheltenham, Maryland.
The Coast Guard provides a number of its own distance and on-the-job training programs, as well as C-school events, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation has its own training facilities at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Federal Law Enforcement Offices in Hawaii
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
- Honolulu
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Honolulu
U.S. Secret Service
- Honolulu
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Honolulu
U.S. Marshals
- Honolulu
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Hilo
- Honolulu (service port)
- Honolulu International Airport
- Kahului
- Kona
- Nawiliwili-Port Allen
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Honolulu
United States Coast Guard
- Lihue
- Schofield Barracks
- Kapolei
- Pearl Harbor
- Wahiawa
- Aiea/Camp H.M. Smith
- Wailuku
- Hilo
Federal Law Enforcement Operations in Hawaii
Recent press releases of the U.S. Attorney’s Office reveal the role that federal agencies play in Hawaii:
- A fishing boat captain, who was formerly based in Hawaii, was fined for attempting to sell shark fins in Honolulu. The investigation and prosecution was led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the United States Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Two brothers were convicted of possessing, with the intent to distribute, more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Service.
- Upon the investigation of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a Honolulu woman was found guilty of bankruptcy fraud and faces up to 5 years in prison.
- A Hawaii ministry operator pled guilty to drug and tax offenses following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Park Service, and a number of state and local agencies.