Special agent
In the United States, a special agent is an official title used to refer to certain investigators or detectives of federal, military, tribal, or state agencies who primarily serve in criminal investigatory positions. Additionally, some special agents operate in criminal intelligence, counterterrorism, or counterintelligence-based roles as well, with one or all of these roles occasionally taking precedence over criminal investigatory tasks.
For other uses, see Special agent (disambiguation).
Within the U.S. federal law enforcement system, dozens of federal agencies employ federal law enforcement officers (LEOs), each with different criteria pertaining to the use of the titles special agent and agent. Most criminal investigators employed by the U.S. Department of Defense and its component departments typically utilize the title of "special agent."
Most people holding the title of "special agent" are LEOs under state and/or federal law (with some also being dual intelligence operatives such as with the FBI). These LEOs are distinctly empowered to conduct both major and minor criminal investigations, and hold arrest authority. While not all federal LEOs are "special agents," nearly all special agents -- with very few exceptions -- are duly-sworn LEOs. This holds true at the state-level, as well, with nearly all special agents of state agencies being sworn LEOs.
In intelligence usage, "agent" may also refer to a human source or human "asset" who is recruited, trained, controlled, and employed to obtain and report information.[1] However, within law enforcement agencies, these types of sources are often referred to as informants, confidential informants (CI—not to be confused with counterintelligence), or confidential human sources (CHS).
State, county, municipal, and tribal governments[edit]
The terms 'special agent' and 'agent' are also used by various specialized state level law enforcement agencies to refer to their officers, including the North Carolina Bureau of Investigations (NCSBI),[6] the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Washington State Gambling Commission, many agencies inside the California Department of Justice such as the California Bureau of Investigation, the California Bureau of Firearms, the California Bureau of Gambling Control, the California Bureau of Forensic Services and the California Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse,[7] the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI),[8] the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigations Division[9] and many others. These agencies may be a part of a State Bureau of Investigation (which is usually a part of an Attorney General's Office or a state level Government Department) or a State Police Agency (which is again itself a part of a state Department of Public Safety or a Department of Justice).
Also, Maryland has criminal investigators who are employed by the state attorney. These investigators are called special investigators. As with special agents, these special investigators are authorized to conduct investigations, make arrests, carry firearms or other weapons, and carry a metallic badge.[10][11]
In popular culture[edit]
Special agents, particularly those within the FBI, have been depicted in popular entertainment for years.
The title "Assistant Special Agent in Charge" and its acronym "ASAC" (/ˈeɪsæk/) are stated frequently throughout the TV series Breaking Bad. For example, in Season 1 through Season 4, both Hank Schrader and Gus Fring are shown to be friendly with Hank's boss, ASAC George Merkert, and in Season 4 Episode 12 "End Times", Steve Gomez tells Dennis the "ASAC" is being pressured to search Gus's laundry for drugs. In Season 5, Hank – who is proud to have been promoted to the job vacated by his ousted boss – repeatedly chants "ASAC Schrader" to his baby niece Holly.[12]
In the TV series White Collar, Peter Burke is the "Special Agent in Charge" (promoted from assistant Special Agent in Charge at the end of Season 6) and the head of the Manhattan White Collar Division.
In the TV series Criminal Minds several of the Behavioral Analysis Unit members are Supervisory Special Agents.
In the TV series The X Files, the title "Special Agent" is given to both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The title is referenced by them numerous times throughout each episode.
The main character from the TV series Twin Peaks, is FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, and also, other FBI special agents make numerous cameos throughout the series, and its prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
"Dick Barton - Special Agent" was the subject of radio programs in the 1940s and later TV and film productions.
In the TV series NCIS the character Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo constantly introduces himself as "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo" in an attempt to be charming.