Marshals Mark 225 Years of Service, Feds Celebrate Legacy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The U.S. Marshals Service is celebrating its 225th anniversary, marking a legacy of steadfast service and a unique position in the country’s federal justice system.

According to sources, the U.S. Marshals Service’s origins date back to 1789 when the nation’s first president appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals. When President George Washington appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals Sept. 24, 1789, his pen marked the creation of an agency that has since played a role in virtually every facet of the nation’s federal judiciary during times of crisis and times of peace.

“When President George Washington appointed the first 13 U.S. Marshals Sept. 24, 1789, his pen marked the creation of an agency that has since played a role in virtually every facet of the nation’s federal judiciary during times of crisis and times of peace,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton.

Today, the U.S. Marshals Service is a force of 5,400 deputies and civil servants who carry out operational and administrative duties as varied as apprehending fugitives, housing and transporting prisoners, protecting witnesses and federal judges, and managing and selling seized assets. Most notably, the Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary agency for conducting fugitive investigations.

“From upholding the law in our untamed western territories to enforcing orders related to civil rights, the U.S. Marshals Service has been committed to answering the call of our great nation. As we mark 225 years of service, our men and women stand ready to continue that commitment,” Hylton said.

United States Marshal for the District of Rhode Island Jamie A. Hainsworth expressed his pride and privilege to be part of the rich history of the U.S. Marshals Service and to lead a force of committed women and men who serve as Deputy Marshals, administrative personnel and Court Security Officers. “I am excited to be part of this celebration of the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service,” he added.

Additionally, in Rhode Island, the U.S. Marshals Service prioritizes the physical protection of the Judiciary and federal court buildings; execution of federal warrants and to assist state and local law enforcement in the apprehension of wanted persons, the protection of witnesses and the administration of the witness protection program; the management of all assets seized by the federal government in the District of Rhode Island; working with members of the Violent Fugitive Task Force, partnering with the RI State Police and Providence Police; and the Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Task Force, partnering with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout Rhode Island.

United States Marshal Hainsworth also paid tribute to the first Federal law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty, U.S. Marshal Robert Forsyth in 1794, and more than 200 U.S. Marshals, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Special Deputy U.S. Marshals that have died in the line of duty since. In Rhode Island, he remembered the loss and paid tribute to Special Deputy Court Security Officer Frank McKnight, who was killed in May of this year while on duty.

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