Law Enforcement and Investigations - Organization

Six Forest Service law enforcement officers posing outside in a Forest for the camera. — Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations at work on the Mount Hood National Forest. Here, (L to R) Patrol captain John Soules, Northern Oregon Zone; Officer Ryan Martin, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest; Patrol Commander Joseph Cook, Region 6; Officer Sean McMullen, Rogue River-Siskyou National Forest; Officer Guillermo Marquez, MT. Hood National Forest; Patrol Captain, Clair Larsen, Southwest Washington Zone. (*Forest Service photo by Preston Keres*)

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 according to work load.

The typical organization below the SAC is one position to supervise the investigative division and one patrol commander to supervise the enforcement organization.

Depending upon the number of employees in each region, each regional organization is supported by administrative personnel usually including a budget analyst, administrative assistant, and an investigative assistant. The administrative assistant handles personnel issues, budget, travel, filing, and data input of incident reports.

Forest Service Regions and Law Enforcement and Investigations Organization chart and map. — (*Forest Service graphic*)