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Is a future career with the FBI/CIA blown?

clarkstonian — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:36:06 -0800

Do the FBI and CIA ever make exceptions to their hiring requirements? Let's say you have spent most of your life wanting to work as a profiler for the FBI/CIA. You pick an excellent school that can prepare you for this career. Everything is in place. You're very badly injured through no fault of your own. You can no longer meet the 3-mile run requirement of an agent. You are treated for PTSD. You're not disabled, per se, but you have limitations. Is your future blown to pieces? Do they care if there are extenuating circumstances? Can you be a profiler if your body is damaged, though functional, but your life is otherwise blemish free and you fit all of the other requirements?

I've looked at the web site but am looking for real-world information.

How much conflict is there between local police and FBI?

Bugbread — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:21:53 -0800

How much conflict is there between local police and FBI? You've seen it in a million movies: the police are investigating a case. Then the FBI comes in, and there's massive conflict and ill-will between the two groups.

How often, though, is this actually the case?

Obviously, there are no statistics, but for anyone who has worked with the FBI on a case, or who has actually worked for the FBI (or has relatives/friends in those situations), what was the dynamic between the two groups?

Scared for my sister!

afabulousbeing — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:03:40 -0800

What do I about a family member who is under fbi protection and is unreachable? Is that person permitted to contact me on their own accord? Should I check with the fbi to figure out if there are, indeed, safe? Lately I've been receiving a number of calls from my mom about my sister and the threats that her ex-fiance has apparently been leveraging against her since they broke up. (This includes numerous letters sent to her neighbors and co-workers slandering her name, as well as damage done and threatening messages graffitied onto two of her vehicles). It turns out that it's not exactly an open and shut case, and recently the fbi has gotten involved and placed her into hiding while the investigation continues. My mother is, understandably, worked up about this and I have no clue how to help except to reassure her that my sister is surely in safe hands. Unfortunately, my mother spoke to another uber-paranoid family member about this before she spoke to me. He had the gall to tell her that maybe this guy was holding a gun to my sister's head, forcing her to tell this wild story over the phone about the fbi. I consider that absurd and hate that that's planted additional fears in my mom's head. At the same time, it seems reasonable that we should be able to find out one way or another whether my sister is, at least, under the protection that she says she is. Isn't it?

How does a kid from a South American slum become a FBI Agent?

Sully — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:54:17 -0800

I am writing a fictional story about someone who lives in the slums of some small South American country. When he was ten, during a fever, an angel appeared to him and told him that he would become an FBI Agent. He may have seen a movie with FBI agents, so he has some sense of what that means. Step by step, what does he have to do to fulfill that prophecy in a real way? I recognize that there are many challenges my character faces - reaching the age of majority, immigration, citizenship, money and resources, background checks, that sort of thing. But I am a little unsure as to the exact steps to follow for someone to completely transform their life in this way. Can anyone help? Any sort of feedback regarding any step in this process would be appreciated.

No really, I'd make a great FBI agent

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:31:45 -0800

I am considering applying to be a FBI agent, but would probably get rejected for a specific reason, should I apply anyway? I was listening to NPR today and heard that the FBI is encouraging qualified individuals to apply. I have considered becoming a Special Agent in the past and thought about it seriously again today. I am qualified - I have a past in computers and computer security, a law degree, a few years experience practicing law, am in generally good physical shape, etc.

But as part of the background check, you have to answer questions re: drug use. FBI policy bans hiring anyone who has used any illegal drugs other than marijuana in the past 10 years. My last use was approximately 8 years ago.

So my question is, should I apply anyway? Or just wait it out for 2 more years (don't worry, I will not be age-barred by then)?

If I get rejected now, would it hurt my chances to re-apply in 2 years once the magic 10 years have passed? If I get rejected now, would I be rejected forever? Or might applying now as an otherwise good candidate make them look forward to seeing me again in the future? Is it likely the policy would soon change or an exception be made?

FBI Agent Firearm(s)

sperose — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:14:56 -0800

What kind of service firearms would a female FBI agent carry (main and backup?) from approximately 2000-present. (If the real answer isn't out there, what would be a reasonable approximation of a gun that would make sense for a story.)

How'd they get the goods?

punkbitch — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:21:49 -0800

Librarians! (I know you're out there). While reading this Washpost article, I came across the following quote: "The FBI documents based on surveillance of Ivins said he visited a public library in Frederick that evening, where he searched a Web site dedicated to the anthrax investigation and checked various e-mail accounts." How do they know that? I remember that at one point, the Patriot Act would've had us give up info on patrons (while forbidding us from revealing that we had been contacted by the feds). I mean, in the library I worked at for 9 years our computers cleaned themselves out pretty well after each use.

So, anybody got the inside track on the Frederick, Maryland?
Is it just that the FBI is so unbelievably tech-savvy... ?
I'm being naive aren't I. I'm wasting my potential to ask a question this whole week on this...

Just curious.

Super depressing winter murder movie.

agentofselection — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:13:41 -0800

Forgotten movie: Winter, small crashed plane in the woods, bag of money, resulting woes. Spoilers inside. I remember a movie probably 10+ years old. A man and I think his brother find a crashed small plane containing dead men and a bag of money. They take the money. It corrupts them, and one man and his wife end up killing the other, and a few other people. Eventually the FBI come to town looking for the money, which was apparently from a ransom or something. They don't catch the couple, but do disclose that the serial numbers of the bills were recorded, making the cash unspendable. In the end, the couple end up with the blood of friends/relatives on their hands, and a bag of money which they can do nothing with but burn. Anyone remember this?

How long does it take the FBI to process a typical FOIA request?

omarr — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:47:54 -0800

How long does it take the FBI to process a typical FOIA request? In early October I submitted an FOIA request about a deceased person. I received acknowledgment and a file number in early November, but I haven't heard from them since. The decedent definitely has an FBI file, but is not a well known public figure.

It's been nearly three months since I've heard from them. Is this typical? How much longer should I expect to wait?

I've searched on Google and have been unable to find any useful information. I've seen a few mentions of having to wait years(!), but nothing solid. Help!

NSA Surveillance in Las Vegas for Extortion

destro — Thu, 17 May 2007 13:20:13 -0800

Was there a story a year or two back about Patriot Act/NSA/FBI surveillance in Las Vegas being used for extortion against a casino? I distinctly remember something about it but can't find anything.

Cool Compass watch

Mitheral — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:08:49 -0800

What is the ID of an analog watch with compass worn by the Myles Leland character on Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye. ? [Spoiler inside] In the episode "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" Myles is riding in the back seat of a car in Kuala Lumpar escorting a prisoner. Just before the ambush is sprung he's shown looking at his watch.

The watch is silver or stainless with a black or blue dial and white hands. There are no numbers on the dial just white squares at 10, 12, 2 and probably the rest of the way around. The bezel has engraved N,E,S,W at approximately 2, 4, 8 and 10. The strap is the expandable metal type also stainless. Above the square at 2 is written altimeter.

He appears to either press down on the face or press a button at the 2:00 position. After he does so the hands spin around and form a needle pointing at the S marker which prompts Myles to ask the driver why they are going south.

Anyone know what kind of watch this is?

Tax Dollars at work?

Unregistered User — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 04:46:05 -0800

search: Can you help me find a citation? There was an article or post, possibly a pdf, that is a template used by our wonderful homeland security et al, to track and monitor would be terrorist's, one of these criteria's were certain flag signals for them. Much like shooting rubber bands at planes, there was a article I ran across recently, and unfortunately didn't link it, having to do with, for example, The Psychology of Cyberspace it profiled the "cyber terrorist", or some such; as I vaguely remember it described --with bullet points-- of a would be "terrorist", one example was, "anyone who spends more than 50 hours a week on the internet", among other ridiculous things, as set down by the FBI or some other alphabet agency. Can anyone help me find that citation? I would like to use it in a research paper I am working on.

Could working at the FBI ruin my future?

exacta_perfecta — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:49:38 -0800

I am interested in an analyst position at the FBI, but ultimately, I would like to work for a non-profit like Human Rights Watch or as a researcher at a think tank. I know that if you've worked for the FBI, there are certain things that you can never do because of it, such as joining the Peace Corp, for example. So my question is: would working for the FBI compromise my future career aspirations? Would I forever be seen as biased by possible employers? Is it really true, as people tell me, that "once a member of the Bureau, always a member of the Bureau"? And, what does that REALLY mean?

FOIA Files

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 09:12:16 -0800

I've wanted a copy of my personal FBI file under the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) for a while now, but never requested it. I have reason to believe that it may be slightly more extensive than the average dossier. My question is this, then:

Given the current "tone" in the US right now, is it unwise or imprudent to make the request now? Is it going to flag me for more intense scrutiny? (which is fine, I suppose, as I'm a law-abiding citizen) Has anyone had any experience with this? (I know how to apply, I'm asking whether I should.)