For Immediate Release

USMS Investigative Operations Division, (202) 307-9110

USMS Headquarters Public Affairs, (202) 307-9065

Federal law enforcement officers association

honorS u.s. marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force Program

with national award for group achievement

Washington - The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) has announced that the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force (RFTF) Program is the recipient of the 2008 National Award for Group Achievement.  The six Regional Fugitive Task Forces, which cover 28 federal judicial districts, were commended for their work in reducing violent crime by targeting fugitive felons, including sex offenders who fail to register, and individuals associated with gang activity.

Accepting the FLEOA award were the Task Force Commanders for each RFTF:  Chief Inspector Keith Booker (Southeast), Chief Inspector Lenny DePaul (New York/New Jersey), Chief Inspector Rob Fernandez (Capital Area), Chief Inspector Jason Grunwald (Great Lakes), Chief Inspector Tom Hession (Pacific Southwest), and Chief Inspector Mike Richards (Gulf Coast).  Together, these Chiefs have more than 100 years of federal law enforcement experience.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) was authorized to establish Regional Fugitive Task Forces under the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2001, and the mission of the RFTFs is to assist state and local law enforcement with the investigation and apprehension of violent felony fugitives.  The Task Force program was honored because of the strong partnerships that the Regional Fugitive Task Forces have cultivated among state and local law enforcement agencies within each respective task force region, and because of the “force multiplier” strategy the Marshals have developed to work with these agencies in helping to target the worst of the worst violent offenders.

“The contributions of our Regional Fugitive Task Forces are invaluable, and the reduction of violent crime in the communities our task forces serve is due to the teamwork of all law enforcement agencies involved,” said T. Michael Earp, USMS Assistant Director for Investigative Operations.  “Since the first two task forces were established in 2002, our overwhelming success has always been attributed to our excellent relationships with these law enforcement agencies.  The cornerstone of that success is the outstanding leadership of our RFTF Commanders, and this award is a tremendous honor for everyone.”

Presently, the task forces consist of more than 600 investigators from 200 other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Although the FLEOA award was given for outstanding achievement in 2008, the success of the RFTFs continues to grow.  During Fiscal Year 2009, the Regional Fugitive Task Forces apprehended 37,374 violent fugitive felons, including 13,125 individuals wanted for narcotics violations, 2,758 for weapons-related offenses, 2,623 sexual offenders, and 1,769 individuals wanted for homicide.

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association is the largest nonpartisan, professional association exclusively representing federal law enforcement officers.  FLEOA represents more than 25,000 federal agents from over 65 different federal law enforcement agencies and provides a legislative voice for the federal law enforcement community, while monitoring legislative issues that may impact federal law enforcement officers.  Award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected for their investigative excellence.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.