 | 2 Oct 09 |
My first impression as I pulled up to the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL) was that the building it was housed in looked like any other Silicon Valley office building. Smart, those feds. No sense in have the bat signal beaconing, letting the world know where there are a gaggle of FBI agents hanging out, oh and where their ultra cool, state of the art ‘cyber lab’ is housed.
When I walked into the building I thought, “Kewl.” It was not decked out with FBI insignia or anything remotely close. It was normal. But cool. I was greeted by a gauntlet of smiling agents and support personnel. I had to show my ID before they gave my ID on a lanyard, which I had to return at the end of the evening. They also gave me a very nice dark blue FBI zip up portfolio. There was a table with coffee (which was not bad at all) hot tea, and cookies, in an adjacent room there was a table piled with sandwiches, cookies, sodas, water, you name it. Wow. I looked around. At each door there was a video screen and a keypad. Subtle, but I knew I was close to the inner sanctum. I was shown to a large room training room. Long tables with the most comfortable chairs, computer screens, and pull out keyboards were already half full of others like me. All told, there were 31 of us in this class. Myself being the thirty-first. I think I was a pity case (hah, talk about who you know! It’s how I got in). Here’s why: of the thirty-one of us, I was the only one who wasn’t ex CIA, retired mega marine, or head of some Silicon Valley fortune five hundred company’s security. I’m telling you, I felt like a mouse in the presence of Lions of Industry! But, J I made a couple of friends. Seems there are a few aspiring writers amongst my group. Ah, I felt right at home.
So, I’m looking around at all the agents and support staff. They are bending over backwards trying to make everyone feel comfy, and we were. All of us. The guys were joking in the back, and I felt their camaraderie. They were all dressed in suits, all of them educated, either a former lawyer, CPA, military or linguist. All of them had been with the bureau for years and loved being assigned to the bay area.
The room we were in was state of the art. It is the training grounds for local law enforcement as well as any agents who need cyber education. It’s were the locals go to learn cyber stuff. We were also taken on a tour of the lab, which I will get to later. But I have to say, it was amazing.
So, let me back up a little. The San Francisco division field office, one of 56 in the country (there are 400 resident agencies; those are the smaller satellite offices in the division). The jurisdiction of the SF field office is huge. It encompasses 15 counties from the Oregon California border all of the way down to Monterey country. There are 7 or 8 resident agencies within the SF division. There are innumerable task forces with local law enforcement. Gangs are a huge problem in the bay area.
The SAC, or Special Agent in Charge of this behemoth and busy command is a woman. A twenty year vet. Smart, snappy dresser, and she could have been one of my kids teachers. If memory serves me correctly, there are over 12,000 agents worldwide.
The Bureau has nationwide jurisdiction. They enforce most federal laws, and while they have no jurisdiction overseas, they can assist, and do.
Here is their priority list of investigations:
1. Counter Terrorism
2. Counter intelligence, international as well as domestic
3. Cyber crime, which includes criminal intrusion, national security and unfortunately this includes child pornography, which is a huge chunk of what the lab works on
4. Public corruption
5. Civil rights: color of authority, hate crimes, human trafficking
6. Criminal programs
The FBI has a 6.8 Billion dollar budget. It’s all earmarked in weird bureaucratic ways with reams of paperwork following it, but it works. The FBI is an investigative entity. They do not prosecute. The AG or attorney general does that.
We talked about Counter Intelligence: of the 180 or so countries today, over 100 of them are engaged in collecting U.S. intelligence. The job of the counter intelligence team is to protect trade secrets, U.S. policy, and protect insider information.
Three top jobs of the CI is to protect Critical National Assets, or CAN. These are economic might, military might and political might. Their process is to identify, disrupt and charge.
The SSA (supervising special agent) Kevin went into more detail, but um, I couldn’t write fast enough, and we weren’t allowed to take in camera or recording devices.
The SSA of the forensics laboratory, Chris, was a kick. A total geek who loves his job. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of this state of the art lab. And the really cool thing about it? It’s not just manned by the FBI. Several agencies in the SF division send their own computer guys for two year stints to work the lab. While their local agency pays their salary, Chris gives them a blackberry, a car and pays for overtime. Any local agency can bring DSD’s (digital storage devices) to the lab for processing, for free! They of course must have the necessary paperwork for it to be processed, i.e a search warrant. But once they have it, the evidence is checked in. A forensic guy copies any and all info from the devise, they make multiple copies, then it’s handed over to the person who is going to investigate. The lab is large, each person has their own work area. It was like being in some ultra cool but quirky dot com research and development area. There were computers, computer parts, cables, software, hardware and funny notes and pictures posted in each workstation. That part of the building is strictly off limits to civilians. It was an incredible privilege and honor for us to get the tour.
I came way feeling overwhelmed, and safe. These men and women take their jobs, national security and protecting you and me, very seriously. Unlike local agencies where there is a lot of at-a-glance machismo, there was none of that in view last night. Don’t get me wrong, I know it goes on, but these guys and gals were more like the person next store. Not obvious in your face law enforcement, but more subtle. And think what you’d like about the arrogance of the FBI, and I suppose they have earned it, these guys didn’t come across as the guys who charged in, in a blacked out suburban, flashing their badges and saying to the local yokel, “Step aside, the FBI is in charge now.”
Maybe the gang task force or violent crimes guys are more like that, but these guys and gals? Smart, sleek, upscale and impressive professionals who like to go home to their families every might like we do.
I’m not sure what they have in store for us next week, but I can’t wait. Our last class next month is an all day class at the range. Not only do we get to watch SWAT train, but we get to shoot big FBI guns! Hah, you should have read the waiver I had to sign last night. It’s gonna be fun!
So, if you have any questions about the lab or the process, if I can answer I will, if I can’t and it’s a really good question, I’ll ask one of the agents next week.
K*
© 2009 Karin Tabke. All rights reserved.
A Cop’s Wife Writes the Cop’s Life:
Award winning author, Karin Tabke isn’t just another author with steamy stories to tell, but a cop’s wife who has “seen it all and heard it all.” Some of the hottest stories come from behind the blue wall of law enforcement rather than from in front. Married to a street cop, now retired, Karin is intimate with both and proves it with her sizzling tales and hot cops. Not only are her cops hot, but so are her sexy knights. Karin’s Blood Sword Legacy series is a must read for anyone who loves tales of yore when men were men and women were women, and love did conqueror all!
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Wow, Karin, I wish I could have been a fly on the wall! What a truly great privilege. You’re seeing what very few civilians ever get to see.
The lab sounds cool. And I know you’ll take to the big guns!
I love your description of the agents–the word “sleek,” in particular. I can see that. A sleek Special Agent. It says it all.
by J. JCarson Black October 2nd, 2009 at 1:46 pmJake you would have been totally sucked in by the subtle coolness of it all.
I like sleek too. yanno, like a well bred thoroughbred.
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pmSounds awesome, Karin. Thanks for all the info!!
by Virna October 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pmit was a lot of fun virna! i think allison has a contact up your way. get your name on the list for the next one.
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pmWow. Sounds like an awesome experience, Karin. Also sounds like that any writer who aspires to write suspense or crime novels, should check that out.
by Liz Kreger October 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pmLiz, that is exactly why I’m doing it. I want to write with authority. hubby being a local cop takes me only so far, but the feds, now they have all the cool toys and data bases.
It takes me 90 min each way to get to the facility. I didn’t get home until after 11 last night. I’d do it five nights a week if I could! but they’d probably arrest me for stalking or something…
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pmKarin, that sounds so cool! I would’ve loved to have been there with you. It’s interesting to know they really are so well equipped and up-to-date. I’ve never been sure when they show it on TV.
by Edie October 2nd, 2009 at 2:42 pmedie, it was vera cool. all of that information, technology and knowledge under one roof.
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 pmfascinating.
Karin, I’m jealous! What a fabulous opportunity! I hope you’ll keep us up to date, either here or on your personal blog!
by Jen Lyon October 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 pmJen there’s a field office down your way, call and see when their next academy is. You’ll totally enjoy it.
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pmThis is one of the most interesting blogs I’ve read, but why were/are you taking this course? Also a query: In #5, what is meant by “color of authority”? I understand the other items, but this doesn’t make any sense to me.
Thanks!
Later,
Lynn
by Lynn R. October 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm“Color of Authority defines what powers law enforcemnt can exercise in the course of their duties. Example: They may arrest, detain, identify. Color of Authority is also used when a sworn officer violates these powers. Example: A necessary force maybe used to take a subject into custody. However, once that subject is cuffed the force must stop. To use additional force at this point would violate the “color of authority” rule. Rodney King would be the best well known example of this.
by Hubby October 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 pmGlad you enjoyed the blog today, Lynn. I’m going to try and post blogs on each class I take. There are 7 total. I’m taking the course because while my husband is a retired police officer and is wealth of info, the feds are a whole different ball game. So is the new series I’m writing. It’s on a whole ‘nuther level and I want to write with authority. Researching on the web is good, experiencing first hand is better.
Color of authority or color of law is a term used when a sworn officer of the law acts in an official capacity. He was acting under the color of authority. The trouble comes when they, the law enforcement officer, abuses that authority i.e. excessive force, false arrests, falsifying evidence, sexual assault etc.
by Karin Tabke October 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm“Color of Authority” would make a good title. Is it also called “Color of Law?” Mike McGarrity wrote a book called “The Color of Law.”
by J. JCarson Black October 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 amYes, it can also be called “Color of Law”.
by Hubby October 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 amThanks, Hub.
It’s a damn good book, too!
by J. JCarson Black October 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pmKarin, sounds like you had an amazing time. Great research, your books will be awesome.
by Jill James October 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pmthanks, Jill.
it’s a blast!
by Karin Tabke October 4th, 2009 at 10:34 pmFantastic post, Karin – can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get back to it.
So true! I made a few contacts in my Sheriff’s Office CPA course, and when I asked one if I could pick his brains (which ended up being over beer, not coffee–learned a lot about cops that night!), he invited a colleague who just happened to be writing a book as well. That’s how I met Detective Mark Hussey, who’s been a regular on my blog every Friday since January.
Can’t wait for more. Thanks for sharing.
by Terry Odell October 4th, 2009 at 9:12 amTerry, I’m going to try really hard to take copious notes! I wish I could record the firing range and the SWAT demonstration, but they won’t allow it.
by Karin Tabke October 4th, 2009 at 10:36 pm