(A) In accordance with statutory and delegated authority, the Federal
Reserve may authorize law enforcement officers to carry firearms while on
duty. For the efficiency of operations and maintenance of proper records,
this authority to designate employees to carry firearms may be delegated by
the Board or the president of a Reserve Bank to law enforcement
managers.
(B) Authorization to carry a firearm should be granted only where there is
a significant likelihood that the law enforcement officer, in the course of
performing his/her assigned duties may face—
(1) a threat of imminent death, serious bodily injury, or kidnaping to the
law enforcement officer;
(2) a threat of imminent death, serious bodily injury, or kidnaping to a
person under that law enforcement officer’s protection or to another law
enforcement officer;
(3) a threat of imminent loss or destruction of, or serious damage to,
property of substantial value that is under that law enforcement officer’s
protection.
(C) Law enforcement officers are authorized to carry firearms only to
conduct law enforcement activities in accordance with the policies of their
law enforcement unit. No firearm other than those owned by the Board or a
Reserve Bank and issued by the law enforcement officer’s law enforcement unit
will be carried while on duty except upon written authorization from a law
enforcement manager with responsibility for that law enforcement officer’s
unit. Law enforcement officers must qualify with all firearms that they are
authorized to carry.
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(D) Firearms possession by law enforcement officers not on duty shall be
governed by state and local laws applicable to civilian firearms
possession.
(E) Secure storage facilities shall be provided by each law enforcement
unit for use by law enforcement officers. Except as set forth in VII(F)
below, law enforcement officers shall place firearms issued by their law
enforcement unit in these secure storage facilities when going off duty and
shall retrieve the firearms from these facilities when going on
duty.
(F) The storage of firearms by law enforcement officers engaged in the
protection of personnel of the Board or a Reserve Bank, or guests of the
Board or a Reserve Bank, while away from Federal Reserve property, shall be
subject to policies and procedures adopted by the law enforcement unit based
upon the requirements of that unit.
(G) Each law enforcement unit will adopt procedures for the maintenance of
records with respect to the issuance, and procedures for the proper care,
storage, and maintenance, of firearms, ammunition, and related
equipment.
(H) Each law enforcement unit will adopt procedures that must be followed
when a firearm issued or approved by a law enforcement unit is lost or
stolen. These procedures should ensure that the appropriate federal, state,
and/or local authorities are notified and that a detailed report on the
incident is prepared and maintained by the law enforcement
unit.
(I) In the event that it is necessary for a law enforcement officer to
carry and/or transport firearms and other defensive equipment aboard
aircraft, such firearms and equipment shall be transported in accordance with
Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
