The Office of Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Management (OLESEM)
was established in the Department of the Interior in October 2001 in the wake
of the September 11 terrorist attacks. OLESEM supports the Department’s
broad mission to protect its visiting public, employees, residents, lands,
resources, and facilities.
To achieve this mission, OLESEM provides leadership, policy guidance, and
oversight to the Department’s law enforcement, homeland security, emergency
management, information sharing, and professional responsibility programs.
OLESEM is headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Law Enforcement, Security, and Emergency Management (DAS-LESEM) who works
under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and
Budget.
OLESEM is organized into six interdisciplinary divisions:
- Law Enforcement Division
- Security Division
- Emergency Management Division
- Information Sharing and Analysis Division
- Professional Responsibility and Policy Compliance Division
- Administrative Operations Division
OLESEM employs Special Agents assigned to the Law Enforcement, Security, Information
Sharing and Analysis, and Professional Responsibility and Policy Compliance
Divisions. The Special Agents serve in the capacities of Division Chiefs (OLESEM
Assistant Directors), Branch Chiefs, and special emphasis program coordinators.
Special Agents also work closely with the Emergency Management Division.
There are five Bureaus in the Department of the Interior which manage seven
separate and distinct law enforcement programs employing about 4,000 law enforcement
officers. OLESEM serves as the Department’s central point of contact
for these programs by:
- Providing program oversight;
- Establishing consistent standards and policies where appropriate;
- Managing cross-cutting issues;
- Facilitating communications and collaboration amongst all Department of
the Interior law enforcement programs, and with external agencies.
