Fort Towson

The United States Mint Police is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency responsible for the protection of the facilities, assets, and personnel of the U.S. Mint. It was founded in 1792, making it among the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the United States.

In 2004, the United States Mint Police employed 376 police officers across the country.[1]

Law enforcement duties

Mint police officers are required to successfully pass the Uniform Police Training Program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at either Glynco, Georgia or Artesia, New Mexico for 13 weeks and complete a 5 week field training program.

The United States Mint Police is responsible for protecting over $300 billion in Treasury and other government assets stored in U.S. Mint facilities.[2] The United States Mint Police also safeguards over 2,800 U.S. Mint employees.[3]

In addition, the United States Mint Police have guarded the U.S. Constitution; the Gettysburg Address; and from World War II to 1978, the Holy Crown of Hungary. Its scope has increased over the years, and it now trains with local law enforcement and has bicycle patrols throughout cities across the United States.[2]

In the past, the Mint Police have "participated in security details at a variety of non-Mint-related events, including two presidential inaugurations, the Kentucky Derby, 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and an International Monetary Fund/World Bank Conference."[2] It also assisted with Hurricane Katrina, protecting the New Orleans branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and participating in relief efforts.[2]

Organization

Title Insignia
Chief
Deputy Chief
Commander
Field Chief
Inspector
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective No insignia
Police Officer No insignia
United States Mint Police - CVPI
United States Mint Police badge displayed on patrol unit

Equipment

As federal law enforcement, the United States Mint Police carry firearms and a variety of police equipment, including batons, handcuffs, radios and pepper spray.

The United States Mint Police also employ vehicular patrols, using marked and unmarked police vehicles.

Duty postings

The United States Mint Police are stationed at a variety of United States Mint locations including:

Fallen members

Since the establishment of the United States Mint Police, one officer has died in the line of duty.[4]

Officer Date of death Details
Police Officer Ted Marvin Shinault
September 20, 2005
Motorcycle accident

See also

References

  1. ^ Brian A. Reaves (July 2006). "Federal Law Enforcement Officers, 2004" (PDF). Bureau of Justice Statistics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-26. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Bailer, Bryn. Departments: A Closer Look at the United States Mint Police. Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine, December 2006. Last accessed 14-09-2017.
  3. ^ United States Department of the Treasury. The United States Mint Police Archived 2017-04-10 at the Wayback Machine. Last accessed 29-02-2008.
  4. ^ "United States Department of the Treasury - United States Mint Police, U.S. Government, Fallen Officers". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).