The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the U.S. government’s agency that investigates federal offenses such as terrorist attempts on U.S. soil. It also investigates other types of threats to U.S. security. This elite group of law enforcement individuals enforces over 300 federal laws and assists other federal, municipal, and international agencies with their investigations.
The Norfolk Division of the FBI was founded in the early days after the U.S. entered the Second World War. There are currently about 200 people assigned to the Norfolk Division.
In its early days, this field office concentrated heavily on national security issues such as espionage and sabotage. This led to additional investigations into such matters as theft of government property and desertion. FBI agents in Norfolk were responsible for the high profile arrest of John Walker on espionage charges in the 1980s.
Historically, the Norfolk Division of the FBI has been involved in investigating such additional crimes as:
- Bank Robbery
- Civil Rights Violations
- Corruption
- Cyber Crime
- Drug Trafficking
- Fraud
- Murder
- Sexual Assault
FBI Field Offices and Jobs in the Norfolk Division
Like the FBI as a whole, the Norfolk Division has broadened its sphere to adapt with the times. In the wake of 9/11, investigations against terrorists became its highest priority. The Tidewater Joint Terrorism Task Force was founded in 2001 and the Field Intelligence Group (FIG) in 2003. FBI jobs in Norfolk involve investigating both threats that affect Norfolk and those that have implications for overall national security.
There are a number of career options within the FBI Norfolk Division. There are specialists in such areas as:
- Bomb Recovery and Analysis
- Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART)
- Evidence Response Team
- Hazardous Materials
- SWAT (Specialized Weapons and Tactics)
- Translation
Along with the main office in Norfolk, jobs are also available in a satellite office known as the Peninsula Resident Agency that is located in Hampton. These FBI agents also cover federal crimes in southeast Virginia and on the Eastern shore.
Virginia cities on the Eastern Shore are vulnerable to spill over drug distribution due to trafficking between Miami and New York City. An FBI investigation resulted in the October 2012 indictment of a man for trafficking in cocaine after he was arrested on the Eastern Shore with cocaine from New York City destined for Norfolk.
Additional recent crimes that the FBI has helped to solve in this area include catching robbers that posed as FBI agents and shot a vendor at a grocery store in Hampton and solving a case of mortgage fraud on the Eastern shore in the Cape Charles area.
In January 2013 alone, recent work by the FBI agents of the Norfolk Division have resulted in guilty pleas to three murders and to the receipt of child pornography. Individuals have been sentenced for Medicaid fraud, being involved in a drug shoot out, and for perjury.
How to Become an FBI Special Agent in New Haven: Training and Degree Requirements
Formal training programs are a good route for those citizens of Connecticut who wish to join the elite ranks of FBI agents that fight terrorism and crime. The basic requirements to become an FBI agent in Norfolk include:
- Being a U.S. citizen
- Being between 23 and 36 years old
- Having at least a Bachelor’s degree
- Having a minimum of two years of professional experience
- Having a willingness to travel anywhere
People who are knowledgeable in engineering or the physical scientists are especially desired, as are those with experience in the military or previous intelligence experience. Citizens who are interested in a job in Norfolk can fill out an application at the main or satellite office, or else online. Once accepted, they will face an array of tests to determine their qualification for formal training.