Common name Mint Police Formed 1792 | Abbreviation USMP Federal agency United States | |
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Legal personality Governmental: Government agency General nature Federal law enforcementCivilian police | ||
The United States Mint Police (USMP) is a U.S. federal law enforcement agency responsible for the protection of the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Mint. Founded in 1792, it is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the United States.
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Official duties
The Mint Police is responsible for protecting over $300 billion in Treasury and other government assets stored in U.S. Mint facilities in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco and Fort Knox. The Mint Police also safeguards over 2,800 U.S. Mint employees. In addition, the United States Mint Police have guarded the U.S. Constitution; the Gettysburg Address; and from World War II to 1978, the Holy Crown of Hungary. Its scope has increased over the years, and it now trains with local law enforcement and has bicycle patrols throughout cities.
Recently, the Mint Police have "participated in security details at a variety of non-Mint-related events, including two presidential inaugurations, the Kentucky Derby, 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and an International Monetary Fund/World Bank Conference." It also assisted with Hurricane Katrina, protecting the New Orleans branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and participating in relief efforts.
Fallen officer
Since the establishment of the United States Mint Police, one officer has died in the line of duty.