TOPICS
TOPICS
ICE tightens oversight of air marshals
A special advisory board is being created for the Federal Air Marshal Service with orders to "immediately address" ongoing disputes and problems, particularly relating to hiring policies and dress codes, Government Executive has learned.
Supporters say the board is critically needed because FAMS Director Thomas Quinn has not been able to internally resolve policy disputes that have strained relations between management and rank-and-file marshals. The Air Marshal Service places undercover agents on planes and became part of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau in the Homeland Security Department almost two years ago.
"As we go into the second year, ICE will need to take additional steps toward the effective integration of the FAMS," ICE Assistant Secretary Michael Garcia wrote in a Jan. 26 memo obtained by Government Executive. "The advisory board will provide information and recommendations on key FAMS policy and operational issues facing the agency."
Garcia said he is directing the board to "immediately address several issues of concern surrounding the air marshal mission," such as hiring, dress codes, the FAMS role in airport security, career advancement for marshals and the use of technology.
Some view the creation of the board as Garcia's way of intervening to improve oversight, integration and conflict resolution within FAMS.
Spokesmen for ICE and FAMS say the advisory board will improve overall integration, but is not intended to supercede Quinn's authority.
"It's an initiative to review organizational issues in the furtherance of the integration of FAMS within ICE, and I wouldn't read anything further into it," FAMS spokesman Dave Adams said.
ICE spokesman Russ Knocke said the creation of the board does not represent a lack of confidence in Quinn. He said the board can only make recommendations.
"There are a lot of policies and organizational issues that deserve a closer look, and that's why the ICE leadership has created this advisory board," Knocke said.
John Adler, national first vice president for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, praised the creation of the board, saying Quinn "has taken a blind ear and eye to the concerns of his air marshals." The association, which represents about 1,400 air marshals, has called for Quinn's resignation.
"I'm really happy to see that Mike Garcia has taken a proactive role in trying to get these problems addressed," Adler said.
One contentious issue has been the dress code. The association argues that it is overly strict and makes it easy to identify marshals, essentially placing agents and passengers at greater risk. FAMS, however, says the dress code is appropriate for a professional workforce.
The creation of such a board is rare at ICE. FAMS is one of five divisions within the bureau. Only one other division - the Office of Investigations - has an advisory board.
According to Garcia's memo, the new advisory board will be chaired by ICE Deputy Assistant Secretary John Clark. It will include: Rick Mercier, Clark's senior adviser; Ed Cook, senior legal adviser to Garcia; and Robert Byers, FAMS deputy director. It will also include two FAMS field senior executives: Felix Jimenez from Westchester County, N.Y., and Jack Shea from Boston. Quinn is not on the board.
Garcia said a senior representative from the Homeland Security Department's Border and Transportation Security directorate also might be asked to participate occasionally.
COMMENTS
- Didn't Mr. Ridge tell everyone that the Federal Air Marshals (FAMS)were being put into ICE to provide a "surge" capability, and thereby increase the number of personnel who can take to the skies on short notice in the event of a national emergency? That being said, this whole concept makes no sense. ICE agents are criminal investigators, with no background or training in the security-guard like functions of Federal Air Marshals. ICE management even suggested eventually rotating FAMS with ICE agents, so that FAMS could have opportunities to do more than just ride planes all day. However, what wasn't explained was how FAMS would be able to investigate criminal cases, with their previous training and experience in flight security. Then again, ICE also includes the Federal Protective Service (FPS), who are the uniformed personnel who guard federal buildings. Maybe the next step will be to rotate FPS building security personnel and ICE investigators, so that FPS officers do criminal investigations, and ICE agents do building security! This is what happens when you put agencies with different missions, and nothing in common, together in one agency, such as ICE. Customs and INS investigators, FAMS, FPS, it's just an alphabet soup of agencies, with no common purpose, experience, training, or mission. Mr. Chertoff, are you paying attention? GovExec.com reader Posted February 3, 2005 1:19 PM
- I agree that Mr. Mercier's exceptional credentials and those of his colleagues will be a huge benefit to this effort. What I do not understand is why The FAMS are organized into units referred to as Special Agents in Charge (SACs). It is my understanding that neither the "SACs" themselves, nor FAMS are employed by the Government as Special Agents or Criminal Investigators. As a legitimate Special Agent who has attained a degree of success during his distinguished career, perhaps Mr. Mercier can get to the bottom of this issue and redefine not the job descriptions, but the titles of these modern day air marshals. GovExec.com reader Posted February 2, 2005 7:55 PM
- Career path in ICE for FAMs? You've got to be kidding. These guys are security guards on planes and are already overpaid. They bring no investigative skills or training to ICE. They are neither immigration or customs officers. Their best career path would be a path right back to TSA where their job actually matches the mission of the agency. GovExec.com reader Posted February 2, 2005 2:17 PM
