Washington County Enterprise-Leader
How To Become A U.S. Marshal
VETERAN PASSES INSIGHTS ALONG TO NEXT GENERATION
FARMINGTON — The shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) and four others during a morning baseball practice at Alexandria, Va., last Wednesday illustrates the need for protecting federal and elected officials.
One of the principle responsiblities of the U.S. Marshal Service is to protect federal judges. Recently-retired U.S. Marshal Johnny Larkin, who has participated with Farmington High School’s job-shadow program and serves as a mentor to Farmington students, offered insights to prepare for a federal law enforcement career.
Jursidictional Status
Law enforcement agencies differ in the size of their jurisdictions. Rookie law enforcement officers hired by a city police department such as Fayetteville, know they are going to work within the city limits of Fayetteville. Candidates for Washington County deputy sherrif apply with awareness their scope of work is within the county. Those who seek a career as a state trooper know they are going to work within that state.
“With the Marshal Service you can be assigned anywhere within the United States and its territories,” Larkin said.
Temporary assignments sent Larkin to Puerto Rico and New York. Deployments to the U.S Virgin Islands and Guam are possibilities. The marshals may not always be greeted with open arms. Residents of an Indian reservation accustomed to immunity from state law enforcement once told marshals they didn’t have any jurisdiction.
“The heck we don’t,” the marshals said.
Warrants were served, arrests made and prisoners transported off the reservation into federal custody.
Initial Assignment
“One thing with the U.S. Marshal Service is before you go to the academy, they tell you what city you’re going to,” Larkin said. “At least it used to be that way, I think it is still that way.”
According to Larkin, deputy U.S. Marshals must stay at their initial assignment for a minimum of three years before they can transfer to another duty station, and even then, they are not guaranteed a transfer.
“Most guys try to get back to where they’re from,” Larkin said.
Cadets may request another assignment, but if they refuse the secondary offer, they are done.
Occupational Hazards
The potential for encountering violence is part of a law enforcement officer’s job. This is something Larkins says not all people are prepared for. Larkin recalled a rookie Oklahoma state trooper, who was involved in a pursuit that turned into a showdown.
“He got into a chase and shots were fired. He came in the next day and resigned,” Larkin said. “You have to respect a guy for knowing that’s not what he wants to do.”
Television portrayal of law enforcement may not be accurate and some idealistic mindsets may be naive.
“They think things like that may not happen, but when it actually does they can’t handle it,” Larkin said. “In law enforcement, you’re not guaranteed you’re going to come home.”
Larkin said that is a constant, every day of the job poses potential risks.
Prepare With Options
Larkin reveals getting a Criminal Justice degree is not as important as commonly perceived. He suggests students obtain a degree in another field which gives them an option to fall back on if they lose interest in law enforcement.
“It’s really smart to get a degree in business or something else, it doesn’t have to be a Criminal Justice degree to get into law enforcement,” Larkin said. “This is something they can’t go right or wrong with. If they get into law enforcement and there’s a dangerous encounter, reality kind of hits home. If you’re sitting there with a Criminal Justice degree, what do you do?”
Family Considerations
Larkin wants people to realize difficulties a law enforcement career exerts on marriages and families
“If you get married, your wife has got to be pretty independent,” Larkin said. “You might get called away at a moment’s notice and you might not get back for five weeks. The hardest thing for deputies and their wives and kids is when they’re gone that long.”
Larkin said single guys like extended assignments that exposes them to various parts of the country.
“For single guys, they’re working a lot of hours, but it seems more like being on vacation,” Larkin said. “One thing I liked about it is seeing how the U.S. Marshal’s Service does things different in different districts. I put in a lot of hours, but I got to see a lot.”
Beware Of Social Media
The current generation faces a challenge past generations never faced, with the temptation to post information that might be deterimental to a law enforcement career. Candidates for the U.S. Marshal Service come under intense scrutiny and undergo an in-depth background check.
“One of the things we stress to them is they have really got to watch social media,” Larkin said. “Once that’s out there, it’s out there forever.
Keep Off Drugs
In the world of sports, certain types of misconduct or unsportsmanship-like behavior merits and automatic and immediate ejection. The same goes for law enforcement.
“Drugs, pretty much eliminates you,” Larkin said.
Gaining Experience
Civilians don’t go directly into the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Larkin tells those wanting to get into federal law enforcement to get jobs with local police forces, sheriff’s offices and state police to gain experience.
“The budget affects when they’re hiring, sometimes the U.S. Marshal Service goes a couple of years without hiring,” Larkin said. “Get on with another law enforcement service. You’ll learn a lot, like how to work the streets. There’s nothing like on-the-job experience.”
Better Hours
A person, who gets hired by the U.S. Marshal Service will find the hours better than the typical schedule for most law enforcement agencies.
According to Larkin, “Things come up where you might have to be up all night, but it’s not like a county deputy where you might have to work a month of nights, that’s hard on you.”
He appreciated working a regular schedule with the U.S. Marshal Service.
“For the most part it’s Monday through Friday with regular hours.”