Lance Cpl. Aaron Meek, a military policeman with Bravo Company, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, observes a village during Tactical Site Exploitation training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 3, 2016. The training allowed 2nd LEB to conduct raids and forensics operations to retain procedures regarding criminal prosecution. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel Guerra/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel Guerra

Crime stoppers: 2nd LEB maintains investigation awareness

4 Mar 2016 | LCpl. Samuel Guerra II Marine Expeditionary Force

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJUENE, North Carolina – Marines with 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion sustained criminal investigation techniques while conducting Tactical Site Exploitation training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 1–4.
“This law enforcement training is designed to focus on patrolling, site exploitation and forensic operations, which analyze captured enemy material,” said Sgt. Adam Moss, a military policeman and criminal investigator for the unit. “All of these elements help organize methods essential in identifying who the enemies are.”
Military policemen regularly locate or pursue persons of interest while forward-deployed. Moss also said the TSE allows military police, intelligence analysts, criminal investigators and forensics experts to work cohesively and retain how to properly prosecute enemy suspects.
“It is important for us to make sure the evidence is in pristine condition upon locating it,” Moss said. “From start to finish we have to follow the exact standard operating procedures or else the prosecution package won’t go through and the [suspects] can get away.”
Although 2nd LEB has to follow multiple procedures, they do not allow the process to slow them down or make them less efficient than their counterparts. The Marines’ training parallels what the Naval Criminal Investigative Service requires of their personnel.
“There’s many more of us available than NCIS agents in most cases,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jesse Peart, Criminal Investigation Division’s officer in charge. “[Having] the same investigative skills, we can provide the commander with information in hours as opposed to waiting days or weeks.”
The battalion continues to train on their investigative methods to maintain peak proficiency in TSE. Whether employing their skills domestically or abroad, 2nd LEB upholds constant readiness for possible future contingencies.
“I’m absolutely confident in the Marines to perform their duties if we had to deploy today,” Peart said. “This is something we do not only in the field environment, but we do it daily protecting the installations with traditional law enforcement.”