News Release
July 15, 2003
Contact: DEA S/A David Jacobson
(313) 234-4220

DEA Continuously Trains its Special Agents
in the Ever Changing Drug Trade

DEA Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Gary Oetjen and ASAC Joe Rannazzisi demonstrate the DEA Firearms Automated Training System with Detroit Division Training Coordinator Dennis Hiorns and Firearms Instructor Robert Holsclaw.

Detroit, MI- The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has long understood the importance of training its Special Agents and Task Force Agents to meet the needs of narcotics enforcement in the ever changing illegal drug trade in the United States and abroad. The DEA Office of Training coordinates with Divisional Training Coordinators throughout the country to offer the most up to date and advanced training available.

In the DEA Detroit Field Division, training is presented on a variety of topics including: Firearms Automated Training System (FATS), Conspiracy and Complex Investigation Presentation, Confidential Source Management, Medical Emergency Training, Undercover Operations, Interview and Interrogation and Financial Investigations. DEA Special Agents receive four months of training on these subjects during their initial training in Quantico, Virginia, however as drug traffickers alter their methods of operation, DEA and its Agents must respond accordingly.

The DEA also provides narcotics investigation training to state and local law enforcement officers throughout the country. In many rural and smaller urban areas, local and county officers may not receive any formal narcotics training when they are assigned to investigate narcotics traffickers in their area. These two-week programs are provided free of charge to officers by the DEA Detroit Field Division throughout Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky utilizing veteran and retired narcotics agents drawing on their vast experience to help new narcotics officers investigate both effectively and safely.