FBI Seattle Sound Regional Violent Crime Task Force MOU Details Mission

Task force fatigue?

HardPressed has uncovered yet another Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Seattle Division task force that provides local police with federal powers to execute a federal mission.

The stated mission of the Sound Regional Violent Crime Task Force (SRVCTF) "is to identify and target for prosecution individuals and criminal enterprise groups responsible for violations of state and/or federal law, such as violent crimes occurring in a public place, mass killings, carjacking, robbery, kidnapping and firearms violations, as well as pursue dangerous fugitives where there is or may be a federal investigative interest," according to a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) obtained through a public records request from the Auburn Police Department.

"The FBI SRVCTF Supervisor will be responsible for opening, monitoring, directing, and closing SRVCTF investigations in accordance with existing FBI policy," according to the MOU.

Just like other task force agreements obtained by HardPressed, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Safe Streets Task Force, and Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, the SRVCTF commands investigative exclusivity for anyone in the FBI's crosshairs.

That means if the FBI aims to convert a violent felon into a paid FBI informant, local police are required to follow along.

"It is agreed that matters designated to be handled by the SRVCTF will not knowingly be subject to non-SRVCTF law enforcement efforts by any of the participating agencies," the MOU states. "There is to be no unilateral action taken on the part of the FBI or any Participating agency relating to SRVCTF investigation."