The Federal Investigation Office cannot reduce its criteria

I was a supporter of the efforts of the FBI director Cash Patel to repair the office, but his last proposal – reduce employment standards for new agents – may be a distant bridge.

Galan out of long-term requirements that new agents have a university degree not only reduce the tape-it risk destroying the efficacy and reputation of the office. As the New York Times recently reported, the plan appears to be part of a wider effort to convert the FBI’s concentration from facing national security threats to more traditional fighting of the crime. This is not only short -sighted but rush dangerously.

During my 28 -year career, and beyond, the FBI was considered the first law enforcement agency in the world. It was distinguished by employing men and women with advanced skills, thought, integrity and governance.

Eliminating these criteria will inevitably create two categories of agents. The veteran agents who meet the traditional requirements will look at those that were appointed under comfortable standards as working in a completely different league. Such a section will erode the morale and undermine teamwork.

Reducing training on the new agent at the FBI from 18 weeks to eight will expand the scope of contrast in knowledge and efficiency. How is the supervisor to appoint cases when some agents are professional trained with proven qualifications and others lack both education and basic skills that the office requires historically?

Once the office resumes the complex investigations he has built its reputation – the main financial crimes that extend to multiple judicial authorities and often across the international border – the agents will be without the appropriate foundation on their heads.

The FBI does not chase the bank’s thieves. It reveals complex fraud plans, money laundering, espionage, electronic crimes and terrorism. This requires both education and experience. It also requires the confidence of the public. The Federal Bureau of Investigation remains the only only taskaya agency in particular to investigate public corruption at local, state and federal levels – very sensitive operations that require experienced judgment.

Early learned the extent of the FBI standards. In 1980, after leaving the college with a political degree, it stopped next to the Seattle Field’s office to ask what it is required to join. The recruiter was not the words of garbage: with a degree in liberal arts only and not an important experience at work, I was not even eligible for progress. At that time, applicants like me-white males-a certificate in law, accounting degree, or at least three years of full-time professional experience, preferably with supervisory responsibilities. The message was clear: the office was selective, and the standards were high.

These standards are still published on the FBI website. Applicants must get a bachelor’s degree and two years of full -time professional experience, an advanced degree and one year of this experience; A valid driver’s license; The ability to obtain a higher secret security permit; The requirements of the fitness meeting office; And eligibility for application between the ages of 23 and 36 (with exceptions for old warriors and some federal employees).

This is the minimum requirements only to apply. To be employed, candidates must also pass the fossilized tests, organized interviews, comprehensive physical assessment and investigate the comprehensive background. It is an intensive competitive process, with only 3 to 6 percent of applicants offered one of the desired openings in the category of a new agent in Quantico.

When I finally arrived at the FBI academy after three years, the class of employees included working accountants, the practice of lawyers, police officers, and old military warriors – most of them in their thirties, and have already been solidified with years of professional experience and life. It was according to the design – the office wanted to mature, judgment and installed skills. The average age of today for new agents is 29, not far from that mark.

On the other hand, most other federal law enforcement agencies that employ criminal investigators under job classification 1811 – including the Secret Service, Dea, ATF, American Marshal and Internal Security Investigations – require at least a Bachelor’s degree. Some allow limited concessions based on specialized professional experience. If the FBI is moving forward without any educational requirements, the agency will be the only agency in the 1811 family. Along with funny training with the camp along the camp, the inevitable decrease in Prestige will be devastating.

It is the honor and concession of the work as a special agent for the Federal Investigation Office. It is also a deep responsibility. The agents are granted unusual salad, power and autonomy. Unless you are a victim of a crime, it is never a good day when you receive a call or a visit from the FBI. Investigations at the FBI are secretly disclosed to the public, especially when there is no prosecution. The agents do not “leak” to the media. The FBI does not make judicial decisions. When there is arrest, indictment, or call, the Ministry of Justice issues a statement.

FBI agents follow the evidence wherever he is leading and documenting their results hard. They divide testimonies before the judges, and signing their own names. He is personal – because every agent represents the FBI and is responsible for supporting his reputation.

In short, FBI agents play according to the rules. Being an agent who does not identify them as individuals, but those who choose to become agents specifying the FBI.

This commitment to integrity and excellence is exactly the reason that the office obtained its reputation as the most respected organization of law enforcement on this planet. Weakening these standards will not be easy to reach the door, will make it difficult for the FBI to do their job, and it is still difficult to maintain the confidence of the American people.

Mark d. Verbres as an agent of the FBI from 1983 to 2011 specialized in white criminal investigations. He later worked in the Office Security Department and the CIA. He is a contractor in the American intelligence community.