Accountability, Policies, and Tactics of Law Enforcement Within the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service

Law enforcement activities on federal land are conducted by several agencies under a variety of authorities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a force of 200 Law Enforcement Rangers (uniformed officers) and 70 Special Agents (criminal investigators). BLM law enforcement authority is derived from the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976. Local Sheriffs and citizens are increasingly raising concerns about law enforcement on federal lands. Some of the issues include: 1) over-reach by federal land law enforcement officers (LEO) in enforcing laws beyond their jurisdiction; 2) lack of coordination with state and local law enforcement; 3) lack of accountability and oversight for federal land LEO's; 4) instances of militarization; and 5) lack of integration with other agency staff functions; e.g., fire suppression, recreation, forestry, etc. Many conflicts are rooted in altercations between federal agents and private landowners and other citizens, which are increasing in frequency. The behavior of federal law enforcement officials has been demonstrably aggressive, unwarranted, and excessive. In a myriad of examples, federal agents have needlessly harassed or intimidated private landowners, public land users, and other citizens or otherwise abused their power in the enforcement of federal environmental laws.