The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is a division of the United States Coast Guard that investigates crimes where the Coast Guard has an interest. It is composed of civilian (GS-1811), active duty, reserve enlisted, and warrant officer Special Agents.
| Coast Guard Investigative Service | |
|---|---|
 Coast Guard Investigative Service seal | |
| Abbreviation | CGIS |
| Motto | Service, Integrity, Justice |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Federal agency | United States |
| Operations jurisdiction | United States |
| Constituting instrument | |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Parent agency | United States Coast Guard |
| Website | |
| http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-o-cgis/CGIS.htm | |
Mission
The mission of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) is to conduct professional criminal investigations, engage in law enforcement information and intelligence collection, provide protective services, and establish and maintain law enforcement liaison directed at preserving the integrity of the Coast Guard, protecting the welfare of Coast Guard people, and supporting Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maritime law enforcement and counter-terrorism missions worldwide.
Authority
The Coast Guard Investigative Service is a federal law enforcement agency whose law enforcement authority is derived from 14 U.S.C. § 95. This authority provides for Coast Guard special agents to conduct investigations of actual, alleged or suspected criminal activity; carry firearms; execute and serve warrants; and make arrests. The criminal investigative function of the Coast Guard Investigative Service is similar to that of a major crimes unit at a large metropolitan police department, investigating crimes such as those "internal" to the Coast Guard, including fraud, larceny, homicide and rape, as well as "external" investigations of maritime-related crimes ranging from migrant and drug smuggling, false distress calls, and violations of the environmental laws. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is a centralized directorship managed by a professional criminal investigator who reports directly to the Coast Guard's Assistant Commandant for Intelligence. It is located outside the Coast Guard's operational chain of command.
Responsibilities
Criminal Investigations
- Felony Violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
- United States Code violations related to or within the Maritime Jurisdiction of the U.S.
- Counter-Narcotics and Alien Smuggling Investigations
- Fisheries Violations and Environmental Crimes
- Counter-Terrorism and Force Protection
- Investigative assistance to Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement
- Protective Service Operations
Commandant/Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
- Assistance to U.S. Secret Service Presidential Detail
- Other Foreign and Domestic Dignitaries as Requested
Intelligence Operations
- Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Collection Operations
- Image Intelligence Collection Operations (IMINT)
- Law Enforcement Information Collection
Anti-Fraud, Waste and Abuse
- Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General Hotline complaint investigations
- TRICARE medical fraud investigations
Task Force & Liaison Activities
- FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)
- Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
- High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force
International Policing
CGIS Special Agents
The CGIS special agent workforce is composed of active duty military, reserve, and civilian personnel. However, virtually all CGIS investigators, criminal, counterintelligence, and force protection personnel are sworn civilian personnel with powers of arrest and warrant service, with the exception of a small number of reserve military personnel. All CGIS Special Agents have full arrest powers under Title 14 section 95 of the United States Code.
The active duty military component is composed of Enlisted Personnel and Chief Warrant Officer investigator positions. The civilian component is composed of GS-1811-11 to GS-1811-15 criminal investigator positions.
See also
Coast Guard
Federal law enforcement
- Special agent
- Military police
- Shore Patrol
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE)