The United States Marshal Service (USMS), as the federal law enforcement arm of the federal judiciary, oversees criminal investigations and apprehensions through a number of organized task forces and programs.
The USMS headquarters for the Western District are located in Kansas City, with additional sub-offices located in Jefferson City and Springfield.
Steps to Becoming a U.S. Marshal in Missouri
Individuals who want to become a U.S. marshal in Missouri must first meet the requirements of the USMS, which include:
- Must be a United States citizen
- Must be between the ages of 21 and 36
- Must possess a valid driver’s license
Because U.S. marshals are hired minimally at the GL-7 federal pay level, candidates must be able to meet the requirements of this level to be considered for U.S. marshal jobs in Missouri. Minimum requirements associated with a U.S. marshal job description include:
- Possessing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with superior academic achievement; OR
- Possessing at least one full year of graduate-level education in a program related to law enforcement, such as criminal justice, sociology, police science, or public safety; OR
- At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GL-5 level, which includes specific work in criminal investigations, law enforcement, and search and seizure; OR
- A combination of education and experience
Further, candidates for U.S. marshal jobs in Missouri must be able to complete the agency’s pre-employment process, which includes:
- A two-part competitive exam
- A physical fitness exam
- A medical examination
- A comprehensive background investigation
The hiring process is not always in place for the U.S. Marshals Service. Individuals who want to become U.S. marshals in Missouri must check for open recruitment events. Information on upcoming recruitment events may be obtained through the USMS website or by contacting a local USMS field office.
Training is a mandatory part of the employment process with the U.S. Marshals Service in Missouri. All new U.S. deputy marshals must complete the U.S. Marshals Service Basic Training Academy, a 17 ½ week program that is completed at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. In addition to intense physical conditioning and tactical training, all new trainees must complete study in a number of areas, including:
- Court security
- Legal training
- Driver training
- Firearms training
- First aid
- Computer training
- Surveillance
US Marshals Task Forces and Operations in Missouri
The Kansas City Fugitive Task Force, which is based in Kansas City, Missouri, includes not only members of Missouri’s United States Marshal Service, but also the Kansas City Police Department, the Independence Police Department, and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies. The Kansas City Fugitive Task Force is responsible for seeking out and arresting fugitives who are charged with violent crimes, drug offenses and other serious felonies.
For example, on January 15, 2014, the Kansas City Fugitive Task Force successfully apprehended an individual who was charged with a double homicide that took place on New Year’s Day 2014. The hunt began with the Tucson Police Department and the U.S. Marshals-led Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force. Upon a lengthy investigation, the Task Force placed the suspect in Missouri, at which point the U.S. Marshals in Kansas City, along with their local partners, took over and, after a chase through Kansas City, were able to successfully nab the suspect.
The operations of the United States Marshals Service in Missouri are organized according to the federal district court structure, which divides the state into two judicial districts: Eastern and Western Districts. The headquarters for the USMS in the Eastern District are located in St. Louis, with an additional sub-office located in Cape Girardeau.