Seasoned observers of federal law enforcement point to a continuing trend of pulling agents and resources from traditional crime units to fight terrorism. The proposed federal budget doesn’t add a single dime to hire or maintain agents in the FBI’s crime-fighting squads, which remain at least 1,700 agents below pre-9/11 levels.

In a bizarre case out of Orlando, Florida,  Chief Val Demings told reporters that she does not believe that an anonymous letter which threatened violence against her officers came from within the department. In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Demings said that the FBI is investigating the threats made in the letter.

As far as the “civilianization” of tasks once associated with sworn law enforcement personnel, using radar guns to monitor speeders seems like an area where civilians can help out. At least that’s the hope in St. Joseph, Missouri where residents will get radar guns to document speeders in their neighborhoods under a new program started by the Police Department. If they “catch” a speeder in the act, the violator will receive a stern warning in the form of a letter.

In Connecticut, the association that represents Connecticut State Troopers is challenging a new directive designed to reduce the department’s gasoline consumption by prohibiting troopers from using state gas pumps on their days off. A recent memo from the state indicated that troopers will only be allowed to fill up their cruisers at state pumps and only while they’re on duty.