|
UNIFORMED DIVISION
Established in 1922 as the White House Police Force, this organization was fully integrated into the Secret Service
in 1930. With more than 1,300 officers today, the Uniformed Division is responsible for security at the White
House Complex; the vice president's residence; the Department of the Treasury (as part of the White House Complex);
and foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C., area. Uniformed Division officers carry out their protective
responsibilities through a network of fixed security posts, foot, bicycle, vehicular and motorcycle patrols.
Officers are responsible for providing additional support to the Secret Service's protective mission through the
following special support programs:
- The Countersniper Support Unit (CS): Created in 1971, the CS unit's purpose is to provide specialized
protective support to defend against long-range threats to Secret Service protectees. Today CS is an operational
element of the Presidential Protective Division.
- The Canine Explosives Detection Unit (K-9): Created in 1976, the mission of the K-9 unit is to provide skilled
and specialized explosives detection support to protective efforts involving Secret Service protectees.
- The Emergency Response Team (ERT): Formed in 1992, ERT's primary mission is to provide tactical response to
unlawful intrusions and other protective challenges related to the White House and its grounds. ERT personnel receive
specialized, advanced training and must maintain a high level of physical and operational proficiency.
- Magnetometers: The Secret Service began relying on magnetometer (metal detector) support by Uniformed Division
officers to augment its protective efforts away from the White House following the attempted assassination of
President Ronald Reagan. The Magnetometer Support Unit's mission is to ensure that all persons entering secure
areas occupied by Secret Service protectees are unarmed.
|
|
|
From left to right: Members of the Secret Service Uniformed Division Emergency Response Team monitor the grounds of the White House; the Canine Explosives Detection Unit screens vehicles and event sites for explosives; members of the Countersniper Support Unit practice at the Secret Service training facility outside Washington, D.C. |
For more information about employment opportunities with the Secret Service, please follow this link
|
|
|
|