# Is the FBI really as hated by local law enforcement as depicted in fiction?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 12, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251 "2005-07-12T23:59:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251/1 "2005-07-12T23:59:52Z")

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Not sure if this should be GQ or CS, so I guessed. Anyway, it’s a standard plot device: the local cops are investigating a crime, then all of a sudden the Feds jump in and assume control of the investigation. Or worse, they tell the locals to back off because they’re in danger of blowing the cover on a Much Bigger Operation. Or the Feds are depicted as bureaucratic, politicized, and (good) publicity hungry, if not downright incompetent, as in the novel/movie _Hannibal_. Is this federal/local antipathy based at all in reality?

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**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251/2 "2005-07-13T00:06:41Z")

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They can be a problem sometimes. I’ve seen it both ways. The Feds have been arrogant obstructionist glory hounds AND, in other cases, they were very supportive and easy to work with. I think it has everything to do with the individuals involved, on both sides of the fence, and the organizational culture within regional and district offices.

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**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251/3 "2005-07-13T02:17:08Z")

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It depends whether the FBI agents are Special Agent Johnson and Special Agent Johnson (no relation).

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251/4 "2005-07-13T02:39:29Z")

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I think we’re gonna need some new FBI guys.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-fbi-really-as-hated-by-local-law-enforcement-as-depicted-in-fiction/312251/5 "2005-07-13T02:54:53Z")

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> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> It depends whether the FBI agents are Special Agent Johnson and Special Agent Johnson (no relation).

“This is Johnson. No, the other one.”