MAY 15 2002
COMDTINST 5520.5E
4. BACKGROUND.
a. The Coast Guard's Investigations Program, previously organized as Coast Guard Investigations
(CGI) under the office of Chief, Investigations and Security Branch (G-OIS) was reorganized in
1996 into the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), a centralized Directorate (G-O-CGIS)
under the Office of the Assistant Commandant for Operations (G-O). This reorganization led to
the removal of the operational control of the Investigations Program from District oversight and
restructuring of the Coast Guard Investigations Program into seven CGIS Regional Offices and
over 25 Resident Agent Offices under the operational and administrative control of Director,
Coast Guard Investigative Service. The reorganization of the Coast Guard Investigations
Program was due, in part, to the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) report
entitled "Quality Standards for Investigations", which prescribed the organization of a law
enforcement agency of the Federal government. As the criminal investigative arm of the Coast
Guard, CGIS is comprised of active duty, reserve and civilian personnel designated as special
agents/criminal investigators, with law enforcement authority under 14 U.S.C. 95 to:
(1)
(2)
Execute and serve any warrant or other process issued under the authority of the United
States;
(3)
Make arrests without warrant for;
(a) any offense against the United States committed in the special agent's presence, or,
(b) any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the agent has probably
cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing the
felony.
(4)
Administer oaths and take statements in the performance of official duty.
b. As stated in references (a) and (b), the major mission of CGIS is the administration, operation,
and maintenance of a professional criminal investigative service for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Within the U.S. Coast Guard, CGIS is specifically responsible for investigating and/or
coordinating with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Office
of Inspector General, Department of Transportation (DOT-OIG), criminal investigations, law
enforcement information collection activities, and Protective Service Operations. These
responsibilities do not extend to maritime law enforcement investigations specifically vested in
Commandant (G-O) and (G-M). However, in accordance with reference (c), within the Coast
Guard only CGIS special agents are authorized to engage in covert surveillance or seek
information in the civilian community by assuming undercover roles, cultivating paid
informants or conducting other covert activities, unless otherwise approved by the District
Commander or higher authority.