Gun Gone? Not Good
If you are a federal law enforcement officer, you know that one of your most important responsibilities is the maintenance and security of your firearm. Rigorous training and education is required before officers are given the responsibility of carrying a firearm, and the expectation is that federal law enforcement officers with firearms will treat the security of those firearms with the utmost importance. However, many times each year, a federal law enforcement officer will lose their firearm or have it stolen from them. How does this happen so frequently? And can it impact your career if it happens to you?
Multiple Mishaps
Periodic audits from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at major federal law enforcement agencies (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, for example) reveal the full extent of this issue. The DEA’s 2019 audit, for example, revealed that 26 firearms had been lost or stolen over a five-year period. Many instances involve federal agents misplacing firearms, or the firearms in question being stolen out of either personal or government vehicles.
Career Consequences
The loss of a firearm can have devastating impacts on your career as a federal law enforcement officer in the form of disciplinary action. The most straightforward way to avoid these situations is to rigorously adhere to your agency’s policies and procedures regarding firearm storage. However, incidents do happen—and if you lost your firearms while performing your duties in the course and scope of your employment, having a FEDS Protection policy in place may help to defend against any forthcoming disciplinary actions.
How FEDS PLI Works
As the professional liability insurance (PLI) provider endorsed by the leading federal law enforcement employee associations, FEDS Protection offers federal employee PLI policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs.
Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290. Additionally, federal law enforcement officers, supervisors, and managers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
