H.R. 324 Statutory Powers of Arrest to DOD and sub-component Police Officers

H.R. 324 To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide civilian police officers, civilian criminal investigators and civilian game law enforcement officers of the Department of Defense (Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps) with authority to execute warrants, make arrests and carry firearms.

I am writing in support of H.R. 324. The purpose of this bill is simply stated to provide civilian police officers. civilian criminal investigators and civilian game law enforcement officers of the Department of Defense, with authority to execute warrants, make arrests and carry firearms.

Many federal officers, for example. the U.S. Capital Police and U.S. Park Police, are classified as "law enforcement officers" a classification that comes with a certain salary, retirement benefits. and statutory powers of arrest. But the officers and investigators under the Department of Defense (Army, Air Force,Navy and Marine Corps), who are trained to carry weapons, who wear body armor and who face the same daily risks as "law enforcement officers" are not so classified.

However these other officers and investigators are the same officers and investigators who enforce federal, state and local laws under the authority of a Uniformed Military Official. As federal officers and investigators, we make apprehensions/arrests and risk our lives protecting others to include the President of the United States, members of the United States Congress, military service members, military veterans, government employees and private citizens.

We are not recognized as "law enforcement officers." We are only truly recognized as "law enforcement officers" when our names areplaced on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, after losing our lives in the line of duty.

Aside from correcting the inequity for officers and investigators of the Department of Defense. the Bill's passage would give Department of Defense civilian police officers, civilian criminal investigators and game law enforcement officers statutory powers of arrest and would take the the officers delegated authority away from theUniformed Military Official, who is biased in the response of civilian law enforcement activities onDepartment of Defense properties.

We often watch criminal acts in progress and are unable to take action due to our lack of statutory powers of arrest and are told to release criminal offenders with warrants, drunkdrivers and suspects detained for Domestic Violence. This subjects the Department of Defense, Department of Defense civilian police officers, civilian criminal investigators and civilian game law enforcement officers to civil law suits because we can be held liable. We even tie up services of local law enforcement agencies, which must then respond and take the suspects into custody for us if they are even available. These acts are wasteful to the United States tax payers dollar because two agencies are having to do the job of one agency.