(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The United States Secret Service Uniformed Division will celebrate 94 years of existence on Oct. 1, 2016. The Divisions lineage dates back to 1860 when Congress recognized the need to safeguard the White House Grounds. At that time, the force was made up of the military and members of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The White House Police Force was established in 1922 at the request of President Warren Harding. Congress granted the supervision of the White House Police to the Director of the Secret Service on May 14, 1930. In March of 1970 the force assumed additional responsibilities of providing protection to foreign missions and embassies throughout the Washington, D.C. area and consequently became the Executive Protective Service (EPS). On Nov. 15, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation changing the name from Executive Protection Service, to The United States Secret Service Uniformed Division.
Today, the more than 1,300 officers carry out their protective responsibilities through a network of fixed security posts, as well as foot, bicycle, vehicular and motorcycle patrols. The Division also has specialized units that carry out specific security functions such as The Counter Sniper Support Unit, The Canine Explosives Detection Unit (K9), The Emergency Response Team (ERT) and The Magnetometer Support Unit.
The various components of the Uniformed Division work in concert with the Presidential Protective Division, Vice Presidential Protective Division, Technical Security Division, Special Operations Division and the Protective Intelligence and Assessment Division to ensure a totally coordinated effort in protecting the White House Complex, Vice Presidential Residence and foreign embassies and missions.
Source: U.S. Secret Service