Federal background check

[NSP]

Just got through with a surprise interview with a federal investigator for a guy I worked with 7 years ago. They guy is in the military now and is applying for higher security clearance.

He showed me his ID and badge. I asked our office manager to leave the room for privacy and showed him my CDL and rice. He looked it over and said "great". Handed it back and began the interview. No problem.

[AuburnHunter]

Sounds like you handled that perfectly. Good to hear the investigator didn't even bat an eye!

[sealbeach]

Most of the DOD secret or top secret background investigators are now not even government employees--they are using private contractors to do the legwork, but they do have cool credentials to flash. Your guy may have been a real bonafide sworn LEO, but most are not.

[Old Timer]

NISP background investigations are conducted by agents assigned to Federal Investigative Services Division, Office of Personnel Management. Entry level is GS-5 with a top of GS-12 so they are not LEOs. However, they have credentials that look very similar to what the FBI carries, minus the gold badge on the outside of the folder.

[X-ffdo]

USIS. Private corporation.

[Quietpi]

USIS is the privatized, former Federal Investigations division of OPM. OPM now, once again, has field investigators who are GS employees, although their number is pretty small. The vast majority of those BI's are done by USIS, or now a few other, much smaller companies who have gotten contracts.

Unless something has changed recently, both contractors' and GS employees' credentials have badges on the front. Contractors' are silver, employees' are gold. For all practical purposes, there is little difference in what they can do. They are not LEO's, although they are charged with some functions normally associated with LE. Their record in the field of background investigations is peerless, even with some huge barriers added in the '90's.

The Investigations division was spun off by the Clinton Administration, and was one of many things they did in an effort to dismantle the U.S.'s national security structure. The full extent of the damage they did to our national security won't be known for decades. We're seeing the tip of the iceberg now. It's hard to think of 9/11 as the tip of an iceberg, isn't it?

[NSP]

The shield on the cover was silver. So in the end was it a bad idea to show my rice?

[sealbeach]

Originally Posted by NSP

The shield on the cover was silver. So in the end was it a bad idea to show my rice?

No, not really a bad idea, but not required. He is supposed to be discreet, but it is not information I would normally volunteer to non-LEO, just to be safe. The badge/credentials/role is somewhat confusing at first, I think they rely on that mystique to help them get their information.

[sealbeach]

Originally Posted by X-ffdo

USIS. Private corporation.

Yep, thats them... Untitled Page they are plenty busy now, lots of work if you like that type of thing.

"http://www.usis.com"

[EM2]

Originally Posted by sealbeach

No, not really a bad idea, but not required. He is supposed to be discreet, but it is not information I would normally volunteer to non-LEO, just to be safe. The badge/credentials/role is somewhat confusing at first, I think they rely on that mystique to help them get their information.

This sounds a little like impersonating a law enforcement officer. Whether sanctioned by the government or not, it is still wrong.

Just my opinion.

[Quietpi]

Not really. The authority the badge and credential represent is real enough. LEO's are not the only people who carry badges, and these people certainly do have authority to do what they're doing. Much of what they do is in fact designated as a law enforcement function for the purpose of their assigned investigations. The shield actually does help with a few LE agencies, but the credential itself is all that is required.

Also, the investigator is required by law to display his creds. No choice there. S/he'd better do it, and the witness/source/subject had better remember it, or there will be hell to pay.

BTW the enabling legislation and Executive Orders do not distinguish between employee and contractor. That distinction exists only in California AFAIK, and is wholly the result of a unique, and in my opinion indefensible reinterpretation of existing law by the California AG. Interesting, given that the CAG is overriding federal law. But, hey, this is California.

[FiringLion]

Still with the badges!

[X-ffdo]

1) Intelligence work is generally low income level jobs.
2) They may "flash" their creds. READ them!
By doing so you will find how "official" they are. My opinion.

[Quietpi]

1. Well, I guess it depends on what you consider low or high pay. Entry level was a problem when I last had knowledge, but the pay goes up. And to be frank, you're not worth a lot in that field until you have around five years under your belt. And with at least a bachelor's degree to start.

2. They'd better show their badges/creds. It's the law. If someone claims to be anything like that and does not show creds, call security/the police.

3. It's official enough. If I could, I would relate stories of some high - falutin' hoity-toity types in D.C. who thought as much, and what happened afterward, but I can't. Suffice it to say that these investigators get what they want.

In order to object re: the badges, write the President. As in POTUS.

[X-ffdo]

They do a lot of work by phone......out.