Springfield, MO - On Sept. 24, the U.S. Marshals Service-America’s first federal law enforcement agency-will celebrate 230 years since its founding in 1789.
On Sept. 24, 1789, President George Washington signed the Judiciary Act into law. In addition to establishing the federal court system, this act established the office of United States Marshal and their deputies. This law gave U.S. Marshals extensive authority to support the federal courts within their judicial districts and to carry out all lawful orders issued by judges, Congress or the president. Over the last 230 years, U.S. Marshals have served their country in broad and sometimes unexpected ways, including taking the national census every 10 years through 1870. U.S. Marshals have often served at great peril. In 1794, U.S. Marshal for the District of Georgia Robert Forsyth was killed while attempting to serve civil papers. Since then, over 200 U.S. Marshals and their deputies have given their lives in service to the nation.
Today, the U.S. Marshals Service continues to serve the federal court system in many critical ways including: judicial security, fugitive apprehension, asset forfeiture, prisoner operations, prisoner transportation and witness security. In Missouri, the U.S. Marshals Service is made up of the Eastern and Western judicial districts, with offices in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Kansas City, Springfield and Jefferson City.
“The U.S. Marshals have a rich history which is intertwined with that of our country," said U.S. Marshal Mark James of the Western District of Missouri. “From the nation’s beginning, to the western frontier, to the civil rights era-U.S. Marshals were there.
“Even today, U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task forces continue the fight against lawlessness and violence in Missouri’s communities," said James.
Since the beginning of the year, the Marshals Service-Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force has arrested over 700 fugitives in the Western District of Missouri. These include offenders charged with homicide, kidnapping, robbery, and other violent crimes.
“Deputy U.S. Marshals and our fugitive task force partners hunt the worst of the worst," says James. “By actively targeting and arresting Missouri’s most violent offenders, we make our communities safer."
The U.S. Marshals Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force-Springfield Division, operates in conjunction with members of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, the Springfield Police Department, and the Joplin Police Department. The task force objectives are to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug offenses, sex offenders and other serious felonies. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 67 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.
Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals service directly and anonymously by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. It can also be accessed online at https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips/index.html. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Twitter: @USMarshalsHQ.
