FBI Buffalo Celebrates the FBI’s 110th Birthday
On July 26, 2018, the FBI celebrates 110 years of public service. In honor of this milestone, we reflect on our history and look forward to the future of the organization. At FBI Buffalo, Headquarters, and across all field offices, we are highlighting the FBI’s history and recognizing the people and work of the FBI.
Much has changed since the FBI was established, but many critical attributes remain the same. The Bureau now operates in a digital world where crime not only crosses state lines, but also international borders-in the blink of an eye. Our best traditions have not changed, however-our rigorous adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law, and the guiding principles in our motto of Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.
The FBI’s first field office in Buffalo was opened prior to 1925 to handle investigations in western New York. The first special agent in charge was M.F. Blackmon. In 1929, the division closed, in part because it had to vacate its office building. Still, the Bureau retained its presence in the city, operating as a resident agency out of the FBI’s New York office. In the spring of 1934, the Buffalo Division re-opened, with J.P. McFarland at the helm. It has been in continuous operation ever since. Read more about FBI Buffalo’s history and the division’s famous cases here: https://www.fbi.gov/history/field-office-histories/buffalo
“The FBI’s Buffalo office has been operating in western New York for over 94 years and it remains an integral part of the law enforcement community," said Gary Loeffert, special agent in charge of the division. “Working with our federal, local, tribal, state, and community partners, we strive to make the 17 counties of western New York safe for those who live, work, and visit here. Our region enjoys a rich and impressive history of its own, and we intend to work together to continue its legacy and create new history."
The FBI was established on July 26, 1908, by Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte with just 34 special agents and was officially named the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935. The FBI has grown to nearly 37,000 employees, including more than 13,500 special agents and over 22,800 professional staff employees in 56 field offices, more than 400 resident agencies, and 90 legal attaché offices and sub-offices worldwide.
Follow the FBI on Facebook, Twitter (@FBI and @FBIBuffalo), and using the hashtag, #FBI110, for more information.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
