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Special Counsel Orders an Investigation of the Federal Air Marshal Service
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ShareAugust 21, 2006 8:52 AM
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to investigate the Federal Air Marshal Service based on a whistleblower's allegations.
In a recent letter, the agency informed air marshal whistleblower Frank Terreri that it had referred his complaint for investigation based on the "substantial likelihood" his allegation that the Federal Air Marshal Service Management had "failed to fully protect the anonymity of air marshals" is well-founded.
"This is the bureaucratic 'Good Housekeeping' seal of approval for whistleblower allegations," said Tom Devine of the Government Accountability Project, a watchdog group that represents Terreri and other whistleblowers. "It sets-up a structure for serious follow-up of these allegations and can be a springboard for real change."
The Office of Special Counsel is an independent agency authorized to review federal employee allegations of illegality, misconduct and abuse. Devine says that in recent years it has rarely backed high-profile allegations like Terreri's, despite the fact that it receives nearly a thousand complaints a year.
In May, ABC News reports aired on 20/20 and posted on the ABCNews.com Blotter were the first to reveal the flawed policies that Terreri and other air marshals say compromise their ability to work undercover.
Terreri had spent three years trying to get air marshal management to address his concerns about those policies with no success. Instead, he says his bosses retaliated against him and launched four separate investigations.
Terreri says he believes ABC News' investigation and the subsequent release of a House Judiciary Committee report forced air marshal management to acknowledge the discontent within its ranks and conduct a massive review of its policies.
"I don't know if all this would have happened otherwise," said Terreri. He now hopes his bosses will move quickly to make changes that he says are much-needed to ensure the integrity of aviation security and protect the American public.
August 21, 2006 in Federal Air Marshal Service | Permalink | User Comments (26)
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"You cowards make me laugh.... Your a pathetic joke.... continue to be a coward and post anonymously"
Well there you have it folks. Your "leader" speaks. I pay my FLEOA dues on time every year, but Mr. Terreri, you are no leader. So next time you want to speak so eloquently to the world, change that number to 1,499 air marshals you represent, because you Sir, do not represent me.
Posted by: LA FAM | Aug 23, 2006 10:00:51 PM
A lot of talk OSC, let us see you do something except take forever to answer a complaint and say, "Yep, they were not nice to you guys, sorry for that..."
We need some help, not flowery phrases of sympathy. Do something about the prohibited personnel practices that have become all too familiar to us.
Posted by: Tired of the Chainyanking | Sep 1, 2006 11:55:50 AM
The OSC is just there to protect the G from a bigger lawsuit and bad press in the long run. Too late for the FAMs. LEAP, FLSA, Chicago and others yet to be filed will be expensive suits. At least some justice might get worked out of it all.
Posted by: Former Boston Fam | Sep 1, 2006 6:54:06 PM
I think the OSC will help. They have had testimony from dozens of us so far.
The management will finally have to answer for the cronyism, mismanagement and favoritism.
Posted by: Cincy FAM | Sep 1, 2006 11:48:23 PM
I see you guys suffering from the same things after USSS bosses leave the Secret Service that current Service employees suffer with now. At least you guys can have the OSC investigate your TSA/FAM bosses; there is an exclusion in Title 5, part III, subpart F 7101 of the Federal Statute that exempts the Secret Service from OSC investigation and OIG has to ask the Service for permission/notice before they come in.
The real problem is the Secret Service management program creating a sub par product and encouraging the mismanagement behavior without oversight. When is the last time any Federal manager had to demonstrate leadership and management skill beyond seniority? Just look at the ATF and other Agencies where oversight investigation illuminated existing mismanagement of former Secret Service bosses after they left the protective umbrella of the USSS.
Good luck in your fight ladies and gentleman as my voice and others are silenced daily by Secret Service management, which has a hundred and one ways to keep us quiet and no one with oversight to do what is best for the Service employees. Look at the employee attrition rate alone and you will see one of the highest turnovers in the Federal government that just keeps wasting money on getting other people up to speed to replace veteran personnel who leave the corroding work environment. Bottom line is that the U.S. bureaucratic machine is broken and no one has enough interest yet to fix it until someone gets hurt again, because management has it too easy, no accountability to produce a product and is not on the front line where the dangers exist.
Be Safe and always and fight the good fight for each other, because we know who will be there when it happens and unfortunately who will not.
Posted by: Leo Brother | Sep 6, 2006 3:45:19 AM
What is happening with this so-called investigation? I see nothing changing from any oversight.
At least Dana is a good man trying to do the right thing. Maybe he will prevail over the evil all around him.
Posted by: ORD Man | Nov 29, 2006 6:05:07 PM
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