The United States Marine Corps Civilian Police is the civilian law enforcement agency of the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
. Officially called the "Marine Corps Law Enforcement Program" (MCLEP), the agency is composed of civilian (non-military) federal police officers.
History
The Marine Corps initiated a Civilian Police force in 2005 (0083) and established Marine Corps Police Departments in MCLB Barstow, California, MCLB Albany, Georgia; and MCSF Blount Island, Jacksonville, Florida. In 2008 the Marine Corps decided to expand the civilian police officers to all other Marine Corps installations in the United States.
Duties
The duties of the United States Marine Corps Civilian Police are following:
* Force protection
* Physical security
* Access control
* Traffic control
* Respond to emergency calls
Officers of civilian police provide their functions to Marine Corps establishments alongside Marine Corps military police officers.
Training
The USMC trains its civilian MCLEP officers through its ''Marine Corps Police Academy Basic Police Officers Course'' (BPOC) which provides them with the tools to do the job, alongside their military police counterparts.
This includes law enforcement training, force protection, first-aid, self defence and firearms.
All police officers up to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police undergo 12 weeks of FLETA accredited training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Uniform and equipment
Uniform
Civilian MCLEP officers wear a dark blue uniform, similar to other
DOD Police
United States Department of Defense Police (or DoD Police) are the uniformed civilian police officers of the United States Department of Defense, various branches of the United States Armed Forces (such as the Department of the Navy), or specific ...
, but with "Marine Corps Police" shoulder patches and a USMC Police badge (shield).
Equipment
The equipment for police officers consists of a
M18 duty sidearm (pistol),
expandable baton
A baton (also known as a truncheon or nightstick) is a roughly cylindrical club made of wood, rubber, plastic, or metal. It is carried as a compliance tool and defensive weapon by law-enforcement officers, correctional staff, security guards ...
,
OC spray
Pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum spray, OC spray, capsaicin spray, or capsicum spray is a lachrymatory agent (a compound that irritates the eyes to cause a burning sensation, pain, and temporary blindness) used in policing, riot control, cr ...
,
two-way radio
A two-way radio is a radio that can both transmit and receive radio waves (a transceiver), unlike a broadcast receiver which only receives content. It is an audio (sound) transceiver, a transmitter and receiver in one unit, used for bidirecti ...
,
Taser
A taser is an electroshock weapon used to incapacitate people, allowing them to be approached and handled in an unresisting and thus safe manner. It is sold by Axon, formerly TASER International. It fires two small barbed darts intended to ...
,
handcuffs
Handcuffs are Physical restraint, restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists in proximity to each other. They comprise two parts, linked together by a Link chain, chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each cuff has a rotating arm whi ...
,
torch
A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end, which is ignited and used as a light source. Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. In ...
and gloves. Other weapons include the
M1014 Joint Services Combat Shotgun. Officers who train and qualify for it may also be issued an
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine (officially Carbine, Caliber 5.56 mm, M4) is a 5.56×45mm NATO, gas-operated, magazine-fed carbine developed in the United States during the 1980s. It is a shortened version of the M16A2 assault rifle.
The M4 is extensively ...
or an
M16A4 rifle depending on installation resources. In addition, plate carriers, ballistic plates and duty belts are typically issued at the Marine Corps Police Academy upon completion of the course
Equipment will be worn around the waist on a duty belt, with shield on left breast.
Vehicles
![Marine Corps Police Department Vehicles at MCLB Barstow (6-10)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Marine_Corps_Police_Department_Vehicles_at_MCLB_Barstow_%286-10%29.jpg)
For base law enforcement, marked police vehicles are used. These are similar to other DoD Police and civilian police vehicles. They are generally equipped with red/blue lights, siren & PA system, computers and radios.
See also
*
Department of Defense police
United States Department of Defense Police (or DoD Police) are the uniformed civilian police officers of the United States Department of Defense, various branches of the United States Armed Forces (such as the Department of the Navy), or specific ...
*
Department of the Navy Police
The United States Department of the Navy Police is the civilian law enforcement programme of the U.S. Navy, in that it provides professional, civilian, federal police officers, to serve and protect the US Navy community.
It works alongside the ...
*
Department of the Army Civilian Police
The Department of the Army Civilian Police (DACP) are the civilian federal law enforcement bodies of the Department of the Army of the United States of America. There is no centralized DACP agency, with all civilian law enforcement agencies of t ...
*
Department of the Air Force Police
The United States Department of the Air Force Police (DAF Police) are the civilian uniformed police service of the United States Department of the Air Force, responsible for the force protection of assets and all aspects of law enforcement on U ...
References
{{reflist
Marine Corps Civilian Police
Civilian police forces of defense ministries
Civilian Police
United States Department of Defense agencies