United States Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
August 6, 2008 Press Release
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FBI SPRINGFIELD
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FBI CELEBRATES 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY This year the FBI commemorates 100 years of public service protecting the nation against criminal and national security threats. Our 100 year anniversary provides an opportunity to highlight the role that the FBI has played in American history, pay tribute to the contributions of our law enforcement partners, honor the professionalism of the dedicated men and women who have come before us, and educate the public about the FBI’s commitment to freedom and security in the years to come. The Bureau of Investigation was established in 1908 with 34 special agents. These agents were mostly civil rights investigators and accountants and did not carry firearms. The Springfield Division of the FBI, responsible for Central and Southern Illinois, was established in 1937, with an office in Peoria, Illinois and 13 agents. A one man resident agency was located in Springfield. In 1939, the Division moved to Springfield, where it has remained since that time. In October, 2005, the Springfield Division moved into the new Robert R. Hardesty building on Linton Avenue, named after Springfield Agent Rob Hardesty, who lost his life in a SWAT training exercise at the FBI Academy on June 2, 2005. The new Springfield FBI facility has a high tech security system, joint operations center, forensic computer lab, crime scene facility, and a fitness center. The FBI has always had the responsibility to investigate violations of federal criminal law and threats to the national security. A key factor in the success of the FBI has been the ability to adapt to changing threats. During World War I, the Bureau was tasked with combating espionage. The 1920s and 1930s brought the gangster era, with the likes of Al Capone and John Dillinger. Espionage and sabotage rose again during World War II. During postwar America, combating the Communist threat became paramount. In the 1960s and 1970s, new laws provided tools to address civil rights violations and racketeering laws to fight organized crime and mobsters. The 1980s were marked by the war on drugs and a rise in international crime. After the Cold War ended, the FBI reassigned agents from foreign counterintelligence to violent crime, and the FBI laboratory played a vital part in this effort. International partnerships were strengthened during the 1990s and cyber crime began gaining attention. On September 11, 2001, the mission and priorities of the FBI changed overnight, instigating the transformation from the world’s premiere law enforcement agency, primarily focused on investigating crimes after the fact, to the world’s premiere law enforcement, intelligence, and counterterrorism agency, focused on preventing and disrupting illegal acts before they occur. Today, the FBI has over 30,000 employees, including 12,000 special agents. The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate over 200 federal violations, and has offices in over 400 cities nationwide and in 60 foreign countries. The FBI is proud to celebrate 100 years of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity, with strict adherence to our core values:
Building on lessons learned from the past, the FBI stands committed to protecting citizens as we face the challenges of the next Century. FBI Special Agent in Charge, Karen E. Spangenberg, will host an invitation only event, commemorating the centennial anniversary, at the Springfield FBI office on Thursday, August 7, 2008, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The key note speaker will be FBI Assistant Director Roland J. Corvington, with special guests: Springfield Mayor Tim J. Davlin, Springfield Police Chief Ralph A. Caldwell Jr., and United States Attorney, Southern District of Illinois, A. Courtney Cox. Media outlets who wish to cover the event should RSVP with Supervisory Special Agent Marshall Stone at (217)522-9675, to be placed on the guest list.
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