Which statement about the first federal law enforcement officers is true?

• A. They include the U.S. Marshals, established in 1789
• B. They were created in 1908 as the FBI
• C. They originated with the Secret Service
• D. They began with the DEA in 1973

Answer: (A)

The early action in federal law enforcement centers on which agency dates back the furthest in U.S. history. The U.S. Marshals Service was established in 1789 to support the newly created federal judiciary, handling tasks like serving warrants, transporting prisoners, protecting federal judges, and pursuing fugitives across state lines. This makes them the first federal law enforcement officers, predating later agencies. The FBI traces its origins to 1908 as the Bureau of Investigation (later renamed FBI), the Secret Service began in 1865 to combat counterfeiting and later expanded, and the DEA was created in 1973 by merging older agencies. Because the Marshals date to 1789, the statement about the first federal law enforcement officers being the U.S. Marshals established in 1789 is the accurate one.