RUTHFULLY YOURS

The House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, as part of an investigation of federal law enforcement officers, held a hearing into allegations of serious misconduct by members of the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) working out of their Chicago office, according to a report released by Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Transportation Security Sub-committee Chairman John Mica, R-Florida.

Among those testifying at Thursday’s hearing was Roderick Allison, the director of the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Also testifying was the TSA’s Heather Book, the assistant administrator of the Office of Professional Responsibility, also a part of DHS.

Besides the accusations against the Chicago-based air marshals, a number of agency personnel at the Federal Air Marshal Service are under investigation for misconduct at the agency. Those testifying stated that they believe they have “appropriate authority to discipline their agents when they’re involved in misconduct. The committee’s lawmakers, however, said that more needs to be done at FAMS, as well as throughout federal law enforcement agencies to hold law enforcement agents — and administrative staff such as clerical workers — accountable for their misbehavior.

The air marshals were originally part of the Federal Aviation Administration; however, after the devastating 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001, lawmakers quickly passed — and President George W. Bush signed — the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 which placed FAMS’ agents under the supervision of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

“I think one of the major differences here is leadership… your openness and willingness to engage in that oversight, your proactive communication with the Committee speaks volumes about you and your organization. If you don’t dig out the root of the problem, it becomes a bigger infection and I like the fact that you’re addressing this head-on,” said Rep. Chaffetz.

But Rep. Mica was less impressed with what he heard. “Part of this hearing was to highlight some of your successes. Unfortunately, the allegations and the problems still continue as recently as September 3rd,” said the Florida lawmaker.