Wild Bill is one of the most famous US Marshals of Kansas, but modern marshals no longer dispense his brand of gunslinger diplomacy. US Marshals in Kansas more often grab headlines with high-profile arrests of dangerous fugitives and suspected criminals. An operation that recently made news went by the name Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally (FALCON). A recent FALCON op netted 248 dangerous fugitives in Kansas over the course of several weeks.
In Kansas, US Marshals deputies serve out of three main offices located in:
- Topeka
- Kansas City
- Wichita
Education and experience are key components for candidates interested in learning how to become US Marshals in Kansas. Early preparations for careers in this field can give prospective applicants a greater chance of success.
US Marshal Education Requirements
Entry-level US Marshal jobs are available at the GL-07 federal classification level. This designates the wage level and also the minimum requirements for employment. Qualifying education at this level includes any of the following:
- A good academic history and a bachelor degree in any subject
OR
- Experience, which may be substituted for education, of one year working in a specialized law enforcement capacity
OR
- A combination of acceptable experience and education
OR
- One year of graduate study in subjects relating to:
- Criminal Justice
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Sociology
- Law Enforcement
The Application and Training Process
US Marshal career opportunities are open to candidates that meet these basic requirements:
- Be US citizens
- Have a valid license
- Be between the ages of 21-36 unless they are veterans or already federal officers
Applications are posted along with the US Marshal job description on the federal employment website, and candidates can apply online whenever a vacancy is posted. Before being hired, applicants will need to distinguish themselves in a formal interview and complete an in-depth background check.
Training takes place at the US Marshal Service Basic Training Academy in Georgia over the course of approximately 123 days. This live-in academy provides foundational instruction to new recruits in:
- Building search and entry
- Courtroom evidence and procedure
- High threat trials
- Surveillance techniques
- Legal training
- Defensive tactics
US Marshal training requirements include passing a final fitness test (male and female standards) and seven unit tests that cover the key topics of focus.
Putting Training to Good Use in Kansas
Asset forfeiture, providing an effective federal justice system, and fugitive apprehension are the three main objectives of US Marshals operating in Kansas, and newly assigned deputies will find themselves placed in one of these areas of focus. To have an idea of what to expect in the US Marshal Kansas District, some recent operations have included:
- FALCON Operation, which recently cleared 282 warrants and arrested some notorious figures including two brothers living in Topeka wanted for crimes related to drug dealing. Asset forfeiture specialists processed the $10,000 marshals discovered on the men during arrest.
- The arrests of seven out of 10 fugitives from the Wichita Police Department’s Top 10 Most Wanted list. All fugitives on the list are gang members, and are considered to be armed and dangerous.
- The arrest of a suspect wanted for murder, who was accused of shooting a man and leaving his body in a pickup truck. A loaded handgun and a large sum of cash were discovered in the man’s motel room when he was arrested, the result of a joint operation conducted between the Topeka Police Department, Topeka-based US Marshals, and the US Marshal’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.