Most of us take for granted that there are different levels of law enforcement agencies: local, county, state, and national (federal). Many folks, however, may not give much consideration to the way our nation's development has resulted in such a complex system of laws and agencies to enforce those laws. When the FBI was formed about 100 years ago, it was a highly controversial change in the policing landscape. Until then, most states had their police and most counties had their sheriffs - or police. Most cities and larger downs did, too. But the notion that the federal government could send agents into the states to enforce certain laws did not sit well with many proponents of state's rights. The rates of change and growth to our country, however, were creating situations that the established order of things was not well suited to handle. A law enforcement agency with the ability to investigate crimes that crossed over state lines became necessary as interstate commerce, interstate communication, and organized crime increased.

For a profession as traditional as policing, I am sure the birth of federal law enforcement was a bitter pill to swallow for some. Our nation was beginning down the path of the complex interconnected entity it is today, and the FBI Director saw the need to form a program where administrators from all over the country could not only receive valuable training, but begin to build the cooperative relationships necessary to tackle the toughest problems facing us. In 1935, the FBI National Academy was born.

Have you ever watched a really good juggler? Man, they make it look effortless. Although you may not see it, acts of knowledge and skill in the law enforcement world are nearly as impressive. Your local police have an incredible base of knowledge regarding the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding them. Local ordinances. Motor vehicle law. Civil law. Criminal law. Federal law. Recent case law created by court decision. Policy and procedure. All of these subjects create the backdrop against which they must make rapid and far-reaching decisions. Do you know which state crimes a person can be arrested for, or simply summonsed? They do. If a person refuses to sign a summons, and thereby fails to promise to appear in court to answer for a charge, can that person be arrested? Maybe - it depends on the particular crime. Your police officers know.

What if a convicted felon is found to be in possession of a firearm - is that a crime to be handled on the state or the federal level? Ah-ha! Trick question - it could be either. Same with many drug offenses, or bank robbery. Some crimes are pretty much the purview of the feds, though - terrorism, immigration laws, counterfeiting, etc. Depending on the crime, we may need to work with the FBI, BATFE, ICE or any of a number of other federal agencies. In Maine, most homicides are investigated by the State Police Criminal Investigation Division - including those occurring in Waterville. State law requires us to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency for any suspected overdose deaths.

If that's enough to make your head start spinning, you're beginning to get a sense of the complex environment in which today's law enforcement officers operate. The middle of a crisis is not the opportune moment to meet, greet, and figure out who's responsible for what - and who's not. Educational and networking opportunities like the FBI NA have been important for the last 75 years - perhaps never, though, as important as today.