FBI Myths and Misconceptions: A Manual for Armchair Detectives

by Jerri Williams

SWAT team members are referred to as “operators.” Each team has members who specialize in specific techniques and entry methods. Every team has at least one medic.

SWAT team assigned to a field division is different than being a member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), a tactical unit capable of responding to major critical incidents throughout the United States and the world.

And the basic one is a 9 millimeter. That is not a percentage point. You don’t have a decimal point in front of the nine.

FBI’s approximately sixty overseas offices, called legal attachés (LEGATs).

Whether someone is a fugitive is determined by local enforcement.

He left the state, so we had an unlawful flight warrant issued for him.

must be stressed that to work these overseas investigations and partner with that nation’s law enforcement and security personnel, the FBI must first obtain permission from the host government to enter the country.

Congress passed a law in 1985 that whenever an American is the victim of a terrorist attack, a hostage taking, an assassination, or an attempted homicide, the FBI has the jurisdiction to investigate that crime under the law of the United States.

The most common situations where the FBI enters into a murder investigation are when a federal fugitive warrant has been issued for the apprehension of a person known to be responsible for a murder, but who has fled across state lines or out of the country.

The FBI authorization to investigate a murder is most clear when the homicide occurs on federal property or on an Indian reservation and under special maritime or territorial jurisdiction, when the murder occurs onboard a US Navy or US Merchant Marine ship in international waters or on US military bases worldwide. These federal laws make murder a federal crime.

real life, an ERT member collecting evidence would carefully

photograph and label first, maintaining possession of each item. Handling evidence this way is known as following the chain of custody, where items are maintained from the time they are found at the scene through that time where they may be presented in court as evidence.

FBI bomb techs also provide training to the military and law enforcement partners in such specific disciplines as Basic and Tactical Post-Blast School, Large Vehicle Bomb Post-Blast School, and Underwater Post-Blast Crime Scene School. One of the most important lessons taught is how to avoid contaminating the crime scene by always wearing gloves, Tyvek suits, and protective shoe covering.

In a lot of ways, being a police officer or a firefighter is even more dangerous than being a bomb technician because we know what we’re doing, and we know what we’re facing. We have the equipment, we have the training, and we know what we’re getting into. So, I mean it’s a dangerous job, but it’s not as dangerous as it used to be.

there are only two other ways to acquire explosives; steal them or make them.

There are no acceptable reasons for an FBI agent to leak information to journalists or the public. Any FBI employee who believes that an investigation is being improperly handled and wishes to report possible illegal actions or mismanagement has more appropriate avenues to consider under the Whistleblower Protection Program.