Duties

Special Agents of The Secret Service have primary jurisdiction over the prevention of Counterfeiting of U.S. Currency and U.S. Treasury bonds and notes, as well as protection of the President, Vice President, their immediate families, other high ranking government officials, past Presidents and their spouses, certain candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, and visiting foreign heads of state and government (all called "protectees"). It also investigates a wide variety of financial fraud crimes and identity theft and provides forensics assistance for some local crimes.

Since its inception in 1865, the Secret Service has been involved in protecting the integrity of the nation's financial systems. Recent advances in technology have changed the nature of financial transactions throughout the world. Consequently, the Secret Service's investigative responsibilities have increased significantly. The Secret Service has jurisdiction in the United States for investigations involving the counterfeiting of U.S. and foreign obligations and securities. This authority has expanded to include the investigation of financial institution fraud, access device fraud, computer crimes, fraudulent government and commercial securities, fictitious financial instruments, telecommunications fraud, false identification and identity theft.

The Secret Service Uniform Division supports the protection responsibilities of the Secret Service, serving as the uniformed police presence around the White House, VP residence, the Secret Service Training Center and other executive level offices. Anytime you visit one of these sites, you will interact with UD Officers. A new UD Officer can expect to be assigned to one of these areas on different shifts.

In addition to protection in DC, UD Officers also travel in support of Presidential and Vice Presidential visits world wide, conducting security advances and running Magnetometers (metal detectors) at check points etc.

After about 18 to 24 months, like a regular metropolitan police department, UD Officers are eligible to tryout for specialty assignments like the elite Counter Sniper (CS) Team, the Emergency Response Team (ERT), K-9, Bike Patrol, Motorcycles, Magnetometer, etc. There is also a number of possibilities for promotion to Technician, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, etc.

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.

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