Law Enforcement and Investigations - What We Do

Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers (LEO) enforce Federal laws and regulations governing National Forest Lands and resources. LEOs carry firearms, defensive equipment, make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports and testify in court.

Special Agents are criminal investigators, usually in plain clothing, who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the Forest Service and other statues under the U.S. Code.

The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 authorizes and charges Forest Service law enforcement officers with performing drug enforcement duties on National Forest System (NFS) lands and in areas with a nexus to NFS lands.

National Forest lands are divided administratively into regions and each region has a Special Agent in Charge also known as a SAC who oversees the law enforcement program. Each region is divided into zones and special agents are stationed in each zone.