The United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service began on July 5, 1865 in Washington D.C. to suppress counterfeit currency. Chief William Wood was sworn in by secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch. Chief Wood was widely known for his heroism in the Civil War and was very successful in his first year, solving more than two hundred cases. Because he was so successful it helped prove the value of the Secret Service and in 1866 the National Headquarters was established in the Department of the Treasury building in Washington, D.C.

The same day President Lincoln established the Secret Service; John Wilkes Booth assassinated him at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The country mourned and news spread that the President had been shot. It was the first time in our nation's history that a President had been assassinated. As cries from citizens rang out, Congress began to think about adding Presidential protection to the list of duties performed by the Secret Service. However, it would take another 36 years and the assassination of two more Presidents James A. Garfield and William McKinley before the Congress added protection of the President to the list of duties performed by the Secret Service.

A few years in 1867 the secret service was broadened to include "detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government." This appropriation resulted in investigations into the Ku Klux Klan, non-confirming distillers, smugglers, mail robbers, land frauds, and a number of other infractions against the federal laws. Because of the attempted assassination on President Truman in 1950, Congress permanently authorized Secret Service protection of the President, his immediate family, the President-elect, and the Vice President.

The United States Secret Service today is a part of the Homeland Security Department directed by Michael Chertoff. The Secret Service's primary mission today is the protection of the President and other government officials. The agency also provides security for designated national events and preserves the integrity of the nation's financial and critical information flow. However, with the new department of Homeland Security they are better organized with the added efficiency of access to DHS intelligence and analysis coordination with other key agencies. They are now communicating better with city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Secret Service utilizes prevention Ð'-based training and methods to combat the cyber criminals and terrorists who attempt to use identity theft, telecommunications fraud and other technology-based crimes to defraud and undermine American consumers and industry.

The Secret Service remains committed to the mission of fighting counterfeiting by working closely with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as foreign law enforcement agencies, to aggressively pursue counterfeiters. To perform at the highest level, the Secret Service constantly reviews the latest reprographic/lithographic technologies to keep a step ahead of the counterfeiters. The secret Service maintains a working relationship with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Federal Reserve System to ensure the reliability of out currency.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service are teaming together to make America a safer place to live and enjoy. Their vision is "preserving our freedom, protecting AmericaÐ'...we secure our homeland". With the new Department of Homeland Security government programs can go to one department for questions and concerns. This is an important advantage when it comes to matters related to training, equipment, planning, exercises and other critical Homeland Security needs.

Though the Secret Service's challenges and obstacles are growing each day. Especially with technology advancing so rapidly and more terrorists groups. They are working non-stop to protect our top government officials and keep America safe from terrorists, potential attacks, and natural disasters. The Secret Service is a "Secret" organization and does many things we don't know or never will. But they are part of the reason we our safe and free in America!

The United States Secret Service began on July 5, 1865 in Washington D.C. to suppress counterfeit currency. Chief William Wood was sworn in by secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch. Chief Wood was widely known for his heroism in the Civil War and was very successful in his first year, solving more than two hundred cases. Because he was so successful it helped prove the value of the Secret Service and in 1866 the National Headquarters was established in the Department of the Treasury building in Washington, D.C.

The same day President Lincoln established the Secret Service; John Wilkes Booth assassinated him at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The country mourned and news spread that the President had been shot. It was the first time in our nation's history that a President had been assassinated. As cries from citizens rang out, Congress began to think about adding Presidential protection to the list of duties performed by the Secret Service. However, it would take another 36 years and the assassination of two more Presidents James A. Garfield and William McKinley before the Congress added protection of the President to the list of duties performed by the Secret Service.

A few years in 1867 the secret service was broadened to include "detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government." This appropriation resulted in investigations into the Ku Klux Klan, non-confirming distillers, smugglers, mail robbers, land frauds, and a number of other infractions against the federal laws. Because of the attempted assassination on President Truman in 1950, Congress permanently authorized Secret Service protection of the President, his immediate family, the President-elect, and the Vice President.

The United States Secret Service today is a part of the Homeland Security Department directed by Michael Chertoff. The Secret Service's primary mission today is the protection of the President and other government officials. The agency also provides security for designated national events and preserves the integrity of the nation's financial and critical information flow. However, with the new department of Homeland Security they are better organized with the added efficiency of access to DHS intelligence and analysis coordination with other key agencies. They are now communicating better with city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The Secret Service utilizes prevention Ð'-based training and methods to combat the cyber criminals and terrorists who attempt to use identity theft, telecommunications fraud and other technology-based