Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 4832 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MAY 2016 by Phillip Land S pecial Agents with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service are law enforcement of- ficers whose mission is to conserve and protect fish, wildlife, and plants along with their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. There’s only 250 of us but if you take a closer look at this unique group of dedi- cated professionals you will find people with impres- sive expertise in apprehend- ing the criminals who are a threat to our environment. In addition, we are all required to have extensive knowledge of the natural world. These days our work makes headlines almost dai- ly. Wildlife trafficking was once a crime of opportunity committed by individuals or small groups. Today, we are dealing with international criminal cartels that are highly organized. Wildlife trafficking is a se- rious crime that undermines security across nations and fuels government instabil- ity. Federal wildlife laws pro- tect threatened and endan- gered species, migratory birds, marine mammals, and imperiled animals and plants around the world. Special agents’ investiga- tions document violations of Federal wildlife laws as well as crimes such as smuggling, conspiracy, money launder- ing, mail and wire fraud, and making false statements. We investigate wildlife crimes wherever they occur in the United States and work in settings that range from major cities to more rural duty stations near some of the few remaining wilderness areas in this country. Agents investigate crimes that range from international wildlife smuggling to unlaw- ful migratory game bird hunting. Like all criminal investi- gators, we collect evidence, interview witnesses, inter- rogate subjects, conduct sur- veillance, plan raids, make arrests, and help prepare cases for court. Agents often work under- cover to infiltrate wildlife trafficking rings, illegal guid- ing operations, and other criminal groups to document violations from the “inside.” Covert investigations can range from simple “buy- bust” transactions where agents arrange to purchase illegal wildlife from subjects to multi-year probes in which agents establish false identi- ties and even run wildlife businesses to gain the confi- dence of the criminals they hope to expose. Similar to drug and gun trafficking, the illegal wildlife trade is a very lucrative busi- ness involving the unlawful trade in live animals and plants. Stamping out wildlife crime is a priority because it is the largest direct threat to the future of many of the world’s most threatened species. It is second only to habitat destruction in overall threats. The Wild Kingdom Police Dept. Between fake tough guy big game trophy hunters and smugglers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does important work with extremely limited resources and danger all around them If you want to get a real sense of just how important the work that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service performs really is, check out page 35. Someone is poisoning bald eagles in Maryland and elsewhere. Phillip Land with a Black Rhino Horn that was supposed to be cut up and sold in the medicinal trade. Agents often work closely with other Federal, State, Tribal, or foreign law enforce- ment authorities. Common partnerships include work with U.S. Customs and Bor- der Protection or Homeland Security Investigations on wildlife smuggling cases and cooperative investigations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agen- cy involving oil spills, industrial contaminants or pesticides. Phillip Land is a special agent with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For UofL accreditation visit louisville.edu/accreditation. For program availability in your state visit uofl.me/sarstates. Master of Science in Criminal Justice 100% Online Set a Higher Target for Your Career! Scholarships Available. Enroll Today! uofl.me/PoliceBeat • Accelerated 6-week online courses • One or two courses in each term • No work schedule interruptions • Completion in 3 intensive semesters Ranked in Top Ten Criminal Justice Programs in 2016 by US News & World Report Virginia B., MSCJ Online Graduate, 2015