On Friday morning, 30 law enforcement officers from 10 state and local agencies were sworn in. Their new duties now focus on identity theft and income tax fraud.

Prior to the addition of manpower, there was less than 25 Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigators assigned to the area. However, the new agents will have the authority to investigate the crimes on a federal level and have access to taxpayer information. Their authority now allows them to cross jurisdictional boundaries as well.

Law enforcement sworn-in on Friday represent the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Tampa Police Department, Largo Police Department, St. Petersburg Police Department, Clearwater Police Department, and Brooksville Police Department.

Officers also represent the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.