Jurisdiction: The United States Federal Protective Service (FPS) is responsible
for policing, securing and ensuring a safe environment in which federal agencies can conduct their
business. FPS does this by investigating threats posed against the more than 8,800 federal
facilities nationwide.
How We Work
FPS' work focuses directly on the interior security of the nation and the reduction of crimes
and potential threats to federal facilities throughout the nation. Uniformed FPS officers/inspectors
and special agents respond to calls for assistance, conduct investigations and provide crime
prevention tips, as well as assist in occupant emergency planning.
All federal facilities under FPS control receive a thorough building security assessment on a
recurring schedule. During this assessment representatives of all agencies in the facility are
interviewed to gather information on the specific mission they perform within the facility, and
intelligence and crime statistics for the area are reviewed, as are existing security
countermeasures. Based on the findings and working with the agencies housed in the facility,
security countermeasures are added or adjusted. This allows for tailored security for each
individual facility versus a one-size-fits-all approach. FPS' law enforcement officers have
some of the broadest jurisdicitonal boundaries in the United States, from state to state and
through MOUs with various other agencies.
