FBI SAC Eikhoff throws ceremonial first pitch at MBraves game

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi’s FBI Field Office is 60 years old on July 10, 2024, and to celebrate the occasion, the new Special Agent-In-Charge tossed out the first pitch at Tuesday’s M-Braves baseball game.

He also gave me his first on-camera interview since he took the job in March. In a 3 On Your Side exclusive interview, Robert Eikhoff shares with me, his vision for the agency.

As Robert Eikhoff takes the field at Trustmark Park in Pearl to make the ceremonial first pitch for this baseball game, the turbulent history of the state he now serves is not lost on him.

NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers had been killed by a sniper in 1963; three civil rights workers, Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman had been murdered the following year. Then President Lyndon Johnson told Director J. Edgar Hoover that the FBI should have a stronger official presence in Mississippi. Hoover attended the re-opening of the Jackson Division.

SAC Robert Eikhoff said, “When you think about Mississippi and you think about the Jackson field office, take it back 60 years to this day, July 10 of 1964 is when we reopened this field office. Eight days prior is when the Civil Rights Act was passed. I don’t think you can look at those two as not connected. So it goes to the importance of the history of Mississippi and the importance to the FBI of ensuring that civil rights are protected for all, and especially here in Mississippi.”

The 54-year-old says trust is fundamental to the community; you being able to rely on law enforcement and for law enforcement to be able to rely on you, the community.

Eikhoff said, “When we look at what’s happened in recent years and even the history of Mississippi that led to the Civil Rights Act and the opening of reopening this office 60 years ago today, is fundamental, the civil rights that afforded everybody, individually, and for those who are not going to honor and respect civil rights, they’re going to be held to account. And for us, it’s important that we work with our law enforcement partners, that they understand the importance of hiring practices, policy, training and accountability, and ultimately, transparency and all those together lead to trust in those communities where there’s trust, you have to have that to maintain it. In the communities where trust has been affected, then you have to work towards building that trust with those pillars.”

Eikhoff is a Georgia native who graduated from Georgia State University, and he says Mississippi reminds him of his home.

“I’m really excited to be here. Having the opportunity to come to Jackson and be part of the FBI family here, and then part of the greater Mississippi community is really a great honor. And I’m humbled for the opportunity.” said Eikhoff.

Robert Eikhoff most recently served as a section chief in the Operational Technology Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C.

He replaces Jermicha Fomby who officially retired from the FBI last December.

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