Any group that has the legal authority to enforce the laws of a political body. This includes local or state police, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

(DOD) Any of a number of agencies (outside the Department of Defense) chartered and empowered to enforce laws in the following jurisdictions: The United States, a state (or political subdivision) of the United States, a territory or possession (or political subdivision) of the United States, or to enforce US laws within the borders of a host nation.

A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It could also refer to a national police force such as the National Crime Squad.