Views West
Opinion column
by Murrel Bland
The U.S. Marshals Service boasts being the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. President George Washington appointed the first marshals in 1789.
That was the message that Ron Miller brought to the Congressional Forum Friday, Jan. 20, at the Reardon Convention Center as he explained the various duties of marshals and their staffs. Miller is the U.S. Marshal for Kansas.
Miller said there is a U.S. Marshal in each of the 94 federal court districts. The agency has responsibility for judicial security, fugitive operations, witness security, prisoner operations, the prisoner and alien transportation system, asset forfeitures, court servicing and tactical operations.
One of the main responsibilities is the protection of federal judicial officials including judges, lawyers and jurors.
Miller said he and his personnel were called in by Kansas City, Kan., police officers to assist with the capture of a man who refused to leave a room at the Hilton Garden Inn. The standoff began about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16; the man and police exchanged fire. The man was wounded. The Hilton Inn downtown is close to the Robert J. Dole Courthouse.
Miller said there was a potential danger that the gunman might shoot someone in the federal court house including children in a daycare center.
Miller said the Marshal’s Service apprehends federal fugitives while working with other federal, state and local law enforcement officials. It also works with international law enforcement officers to apprehend fugitives abroad.
Providing witness protection is another function of the service, Miller said. It also protects and relocates witnesses in the relocation program. The service houses more than 50,000 detainees in federal, state and local jails. It is responsible for transporting more than 260,000 prisoners annually.
The Marhsals Service manages more than $3.1 billion worth of property that has been forfeited through illegal activities. The service also has a special operations group that can respond when federal laws are violated.
Miller, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, a Democrat, said he expects that his appointment will be continued under President Donald Trump.
Miller served for 34 years in the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department—the last six years as chief. He was also chief of police in Topeka for eight years. He lives in the Piper community.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.