Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)

The United States Department of the Navy has its own law enforcement agency called the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Its prime concern is to conduct investigations concerning the US Navy personnel and other threats to the national security. It succeeded the Naval Investigative Service that was established in 1966 that was composed of civilian special agents. These agents were later on classified as Excepted civil servants. The Marine Corps criminal investigation division was later on integrated with the NCIS. Its special agents are deployed in the so-called floating city because they usually stay in aircraft carriers.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service – Responsibilities

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) operates its duties and responsibilities within the authority of the Secretary of the Navy. Its special agents are highly skilled and professionals, with training from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. Among the duties and powers of the NCIS special agents include the following:
• Counter a full range counterintelligence operations and activities
• Provide anti-terrorism activities
• Give an advice to the Commandant of the Marine Corps
• Neutralize terrorist activities
• Provide logistics, intelligence and communication support
• Carry firearms primarily the standard issued pistol of SIG Sauer P229R DAK. They may also carry the SIG Sauer P239 DAK.
• Crime scene examination
• Interrogation of witnesses or suspected criminals
• Conduct investigations on the high seas or even in remote locations

Naval Criminal Investigative Service – Authority

The authority of the NCIS to investigate crimes is in line with its mission to provide intelligence, security and exercise law enforcement responsibilities. They are also tasked to investigate deaths of personnel of the Department of Navy. Among the various crimes that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) investigates include the following:
• Terrorism
• Potential threat to national security
• Homicide
• Counterintelligence
• Espionage
• Sabotage
• Crimes committed by its personnel in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice