United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service (often abbreviated S.S.) is a United States federal government law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security (prior to the founding of that department in 2002, it was under the United States Department of the Treasury).

History

The Secret Service was commissioned on July 5, 1865 in Washington, D.C., to suppress counterfeit currency, which is why it was established under the United States Department of the Treasury. After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress informally requested Secret Service presidential protection. A year later, the Secret Service assumed full-time responsibility for protection of the President. In 1902, William Craig was the first Secret Service agent killed while protecting the president. The only member of the Secret Service to die while actually defending the president from an assasination attempt is Private Leslie Coffelt of the White House Police (now Uniformed Division). In 1950, President Truman was residing in the Blair House, across the street from the White House, while the executive mansion was undergoing renovations. Two men approached the Blair House with the intent to assasinate President Truman. Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, who were Puerto Rican nationals, opened fire on Private Coffelt and two other White House Police Officers. Private Coffelt returned fire, killing Torresola. Collazo was also shot, but survived his injuries and served 29 years in prison before returning to Puerto Rico.

Related Topics:
July 5 - 1865 - Washington, D.C. - Counterfeit - Currency - United States Department of the Treasury - Assassination - William McKinley - 1901 - Congress - William Craig - The first

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The Secret Service Presidential Protection Detail safeguards the President of the United States and his immediate family. They are heavily armed and work with local police and the military to safeguard the President when he travels.

Related Topics:
President of the United States - Police - Military

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Although today this is the Secret Service's most visible role, personal protection is an anomaly in the responsibilities of an agency focused on fraud and counterfeiting. The reason for this combination of duties is that when the need for presidential protection became apparent in the late 19th century, there were only a few federal services with the necessary abilities. The FBI, CIA, BATF, and DEA did not yet exist. The United States Marshals Service was the only other logical choice, and in fact the U.S. Marshals did provide protection for the president at some points. In the end though, the job went to the Secret Service.

Related Topics:
FBI - CIA - BATF - DEA - United States Marshals Service

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The Secret Service has over 5,000 employees: 2,100 special agents, 1200 Uniformed Division employees, and 1,700 technical and administrative employees. Special agents either serve as bodyguards for public officials or investigate financial fraud.

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Per Public Law 91-217, passed in 1970, Secret Service Uniformed Division police officers protect:

Related Topics:
1970 - Police

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• the White House Complex, the Main Treasury Building and Annex, and other presidential offices
• the President and members of his or her immediate family
• the temporary official residence of the Vice President in the District of Columbia
• the Vice President and members of his or her immediate family
• foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and throughout the United States and its territories and possessions, as prescribed by statute.
• the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates during election years.

The United States Secret Service Uniformed Division is similar to the Capitol Police and is in charge of protecting the physical White House grounds and foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C. area. The Uniformed Division was originally a separate organization known as the White House Police, but was incorporated into the US Secret Service in the 1970s.

Related Topics:
Capitol Police - White House

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In 1968, as a result of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, Congress authorized protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates and nominees (Public Law 90-331). Congress also authorized protection of the widows of presidents until death or remarriage, and their children until age 16.

Related Topics:
1968 - Robert F. Kennedy

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Congress passed legislation in 1994 stating that presidents elected to office after January 1, 1997, will receive Secret Service protection for 10 years after leaving office. Individuals elected to office prior to January 1, 1997, will continue to receive lifetime protection (Public Law 103-329).

Related Topics:
1994 - January 1 - 1997

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The Service also investigates forgery of government checks, forgery of currency equivalents (such as travelers' checks), and certain instances of wire fraud (such as the so called Nigerian "419" advance fee scheme) and credit card fraud.

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The Secret Service also has concurent jurisdiction for violation of federal computer crime laws. They have created a network of 15 Electronic Crimes Task Forces (ECTF's) across the United States. These task forces create partnerships between the Service, federal/state and local law enforcement, the private sector and acadamia aimed at combating technology based crimes.

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In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed Presidential Decision Directive 62, which established National Special Security Events (NSSE). In that directive, it made the Secret Service the federal agency responsible for security in the event that an event is given such a designation.

Related Topics:
1998 - Bill Clinton - Presidential Decision Directive - National Special Security Events

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Effective March 1, 2003, the Secret Service was transferred from the Department of the Treasury to the newly established Department of Homeland Security.

Related Topics:
Department of the Treasury - Department of Homeland Security

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