For better or worse, law enforcement officers often find themselves in the public spotlight. Unfortunately, even officers with excellent conduct that consistently adhere to regulations and federal policies aren’t immune to allegations of wrongdoing.

In recent years, federal law enforcement officers have been the subject of increasing scrutiny from the media, public, and politicians.

Recently, news broke that former Ambassador Gordon Sondland, a key witness in the 2019 impeachment probe, is suing former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the U.S. government for recoupment of $1.8 million in attorney’s fees.

In today’s tumultuous political environment, federal law enforcement officers need to leverage every aspect of their skillset in order to succeed on the job. The issues, questions and challenges facing the federal community and federal law enforcement officers in particular seem to become more complex, varied, and dynamic by the day. Government agencies and successful companies are increasingly seeking more people with high emotional intelligence (EQ).

Federal law enforcement officers asked, and we listened—FEDS Protection is excited to announce that we have added a $3 million civil liability coverage option to our professional liability insurance (PLI) program, extending civil liability coverage available for federal employees beyond the existing $1 million and $2 million policies.

Across all agencies, federal law enforcement officers are stressed out. Even prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, agencies had been understaffing units and overworking their officers. Studies show that understaffing may lead to decreased job performance due to officer fatigue that causes diminished observational abilities. For many reasons—social distancing protocols, employee illness, etc.—the pandemic has exacerbated these issues, putting more pressure on federal law enforcement officers than ever before. Despite the efforts of you and your fellow officers trying to keep up with agency demands, problems will inevitably arise and, when they do, the agency is going to look for someone to blame.

For 14 years, Federal Employee Defense Services has provided professional liability insurance (PLI) for federal law enforcement officers and has been a proud advocate for the federal law enforcement community. Now, FEDS is expanding its ability to offer even more support to federal law enforcement officers through its acquisition by CRC Group, a leading national wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products. This timely partnership will enable FEDS to expand coverage options for public employees and contractors.