Federal Air Marshals’ Bosses Accused of Arrogance, Cover-Up

This is just another case of how the Bush administration’s lack of accountability to Congress and the American people, that power left unchecked will eventually lead to the distruction of a democracy!
Can’t wait until November until the Democrats finally take over both houses of Congress and the over sight so sorely needed can be accomplished and the impeachment can begin!

the system is the same as the others…why be right, proper and informative.

Federal agencies need to remind themselvs of who they answer to- the public. What we want from them is attack dog performance and guide dog obedience. They also suffer from short term planning, no idea what they want in the future.

The Secret Service is like a disease. It has taken over the Air Marshal Program and has left it soft and weak. The USSS cronyism needs to go for the agency to survive. Do the taxpayers know that these guys make over $200,000 per year??

This action should not suprise anyone for it happens thoughout govt and did so for me in the intel community….I could put up with infantal management with individuals half my age or retire. I chose retirement and now you can see massive brain drain. Good luck to all for you are going to need it. Thank you.

The federal government needs to seriously reconsider allowing armed officers onboard aircraft. I’d rather have armed officers on the ground preventing terrorists and bombs from getting on the plane instead of officers vulnerable to an ambush during flight and to have their weapons used against them.
Time to mandate that all U.S. cockpits mount shotguns with buckshot. I am less worried of getting buck-shot sprayed into the cabin than a terrorist executing flight crews with an air marshal’s large caliber handgun.
If a terrorist gets past the passengers and tried to force himself into the cockpit, he will get a close contact fire of buckshot from a pilot.
Spend the money and install metal cable barriers (like United Airlines uses) so that when pilots need to open the cockpit door during flight to relieve themselves in the forward lavatory, a terrorist won’t rush the cockpit and lock himself inside.

To the person who did not understand why any of this is President Bush’s fault. Bush is the President of the United States of America, not some guy in the mailroom. Maybe you have never heard the quote from a real President, Harry Truman, ” The Buck Stop’s Here.” When you are the President, like the CEO of a company, you are the person in charge. He has hired most of the people running these organizations. Its his job to fix these things but he cant. The man is a pitiful excuse for a leader and embarrassment to this Country

This is public corruption in it’s purest form. The american public will be shocked and angry.

If rank and file Air Marshals were not so afraid to speak, this corruption would end overnight. Cronyism and corruption has beat down most of the fine men trying to make a positive difference. The arrogance, disgraceful conduct, and stupidity of FAMS management is astounding. Please pray for the Air Marshals staying in their jobs despite the total lack of leadership and trying to do their jobs with integrity while being surrounded by fraud.

As a former Marshal I can say that many of the highly qualified agents left because of the poor attitude of higher management who were just collecting double pay checks. In the beginning we had top canidates, now numbers are drifting… its sad that it took so long.

I personally know of these abuses firsthand and am one of the many Federal Air marshals that were retaliated against for speaking up and out. I have since been terminated on false grounds, while all of the inept cronies are put into key positions and exonerated of their egregious acts. The Management of the FAMs has created an environment of tyranny, discrimination, criminal behavior, gross mismanagement, and abuse of authority.
I am glad that it is coming to light, but what I cannot figure out is how the House Judiciary Committee knows this and has yet to hold anyone accountable. FAM management, largely comprised of retired US Secret Service Agents that are double dipping on taxpayers money, and they are some of the most politically well connected and corrupt bunch of thieves and criminals I have ever witnessed in government service. They flaunt the fact that they are politically well connected and have other members (retired USSS) slowly taking over as the heads of other federal law enforcement agencies.
They brag about how they will never be able to be convicted of any wrongdoing because their buddies are in charge of many of the OIG Agencies charged with investigating their actions. They have intimidated FAM into being quiet at the risk losing their livelihoods if they do not play along. They have enforced their threats by making examples of those that have spoken out anyway. They have hidden countless scandals and problems within the service by blatantly lying to congress and any other investigative agency and targeting whistleblowers.
They have hidden the fact that there are endless medical problems for flying FAMs, due to poor management, failure to follow proper aviation medical guidelines, and an overt effort to hide this fact. They have falsified official documents and threatened or fired FAMs that go on record about their health issues forcing many to fly sick. Some of these injuries are life-threatening; some are leaving FAMs in danger of permanent loss of physical function as they are being forced by management to fly despite their injuries and illnesses.
There have been countless assaults against FAMs by management. Most have gone unreported as the assaulted FAM fears being ousted as his complaints will only infuriate management and fall on deaf ears because of managements political connections.
FAM managers are falsifying their time and attendance sheets and using government vehicles for unauthorized reasons like going to buy lottery tickets, having affairs with civilian office staff, or to baseball games. FAM managers are crashing government vehicles and not reporting it, but having the vehicles fixed on their own illegally without reporting it.
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I will not hold my breath on whether anything is REAL is done by Congress. I hope that the men and women of the Federal Air Marshal service that have given up their careers in other agencies Post 9/11to become FAMs, because they believed in the mission and wanted to truly serve the American People in the best way they could, are given Justice and the Whistleblowers get Vindication.

Mike, Your comment was as follows:
Sorry, I haven’t heard any facts yet. Who’s pointing fingers at who?! This just sounds like “waaaahhh, their attitude stinks, so therefore, they are corrupt…” Who punished the Air Marshals for addressing questions? What are the facts?
And why as usual is it Bush’s fault?
I can say that I was sexually harassed by another employee via email (in black and white)over our “secure” domain and was told it would not be investigated.
A FAM manager cost the FAM Service over a 1/2 million dollars for his harassement to a subordinate and he never spent one day on suspension, nor lost his duty weapon and credentials and was never investigated. The Service just payed the employee. Your tax dollars!!!
I am currently employed with the FAM service and have documents to prove the illegal changing of timesheets by management (an official signed document by an employee).
I also have documents proving forged medical documents by medical staff just to keep a FAM flying.
Should I continue? They are breaking laws and policies daily.
When reported to IA (Internal Affairs, also retired Secret Service Agents) they stated the management did nothing wrong. The investigation took less than two weeks.
When we have issues concerning our safety and the flying public, we are told to “shut up and deal with it or find another job”. Keep in mind we are out there every day, they are not and we want everyone to be safe.
Managers have made racial slurs using the “N” word and it was never investigated.
I’m sure you will see other issues as the FAMS hear of this post.
When does it stop and who will stop the constant harassement to all of us.
I also have other issues but do not wish to post them at this time.

The problem is they transfered a managment team from the Secret Service an agency that had so much trouble with a us and them mentality. The thing is the team was ready for retirement and did so and took on another job, but did not keep up with the 20th Century Changes.
Time to get rid of these managers, when public affairs tells lies to the public and lies to his superiors and those who works around him, what is his words worth?
Retaliation umm torture for many, psychological warfare should have been their major! But they appear to be dazed and confused as they are using it on their own guys.

I am glad to see that this issue is finally coming to light. It is time that Congress acts upon this and removes all of the Secret Service cronies and investigates them and their activities. Why is it that these individuals were brought out of retirement to make over $200,000 each with NO KNOWLEDGE about the position to serve as supervisors and management personnel ? The salary for one of these cronys is enough to pay for three new active supervisors to replace them. Meanwhile you had qualified experienced active law enforcement and military veterans with extensive experience and superior educations like Masters and Doctorate degrees. Lets face the crony system runs the agency into the ground and the persons with the actual work experience continue to leave in droves, oh and TSA is worried about a high screener turn over? They need to dedicate the resources to keeping their experienced personnel in place by developing a career track and eliminating the waste associated witht the secret service cronys.

I congratulate Brian Ross,ABC News’Chief Investigative Correspondent, for bringing to light what we have not been able to do for fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, there are still individuals, such as “Sonya” posting dated May 16,2006, which believe we are simply whining and cannot provide proof. We can, and many have provided proof despite retaliations, but the corrupt agency officials have sealed the drum tight by marking ALL information as Official Use Only which its release would ensure our termination. The retired Secret Service officials who manage the FAM Service have the same ethics as many of the ENRON officials, the difference is that in the corporate world the criminals are indicted, but in the higharchy of government the “buddies” are allowed to simply retire (again). Once these officials retire (again), they take with them their large bonuses, but leave the taxpayers with the burden of paying for the many lawsuits these selfish individuals have prompted. If the general public really knew how alive and well the “good ol’ boy” system is in government (regardless of party affliations), they would demand to know the entire truth behind the scandals.
Just ask yourselves, how did retired Secret Service Agents(seeking a second retirement) get control of the FAM Service and many of the OIG offices which investigate corruption allegations?
Thanks to the American public who is willing to listen and support those who cannot defend themselves.

The time has come to shine a little more light into some of the other dark corners of the Federal Air Marshal Service’s senior management. John Magaw is the first person that should be looked at if one wants to understand how things got so bad at the Federal Air Marshal Service. John Magaw was the man appointed to lead and build up the newly established Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and its enforcement arm: The Federal Air Marshal Service. Few people understand that the Federal Air Marshal Service started out as a division of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Civil Aviation Security.
When the TSA was created, the Air Marshals were removed from the FAA and placed under Magaw. This is where the problems started. In June of 2002 there were several short articles in USA Today about how the TSA and Magaw had “watered down” the stringent FAA hiring and training standards that had made the US Federal Air Marshals one of the most proficient and effective anti-terrorist organizations in the world.
Later, there were more articles about how the firearms standards for the Air Marshals had been lowered in order to meet a requirement for X number of Air Marshals by X date. Why all the problems all of a sudden? The answer is so ironic and simple, it’s almost hard to believe: The Air Marshal Service had been hijacked by a “good old boy network” composed of former and retired US Secret Service agents.
Before we continue, lets clarify a few things. In 2004, the House Judiciary Committee created the first real legislative definition of “Federal Air Marshal” when they began their investigation into the troubled service. They defined a Federal Air Marshal as a Federal law enforcement officer who is 1) Specially and specifically trained for the mission of preventing and stopping aircraft piracy; and 2) Performs those duties, and only those duties, on board an aircraft full time.
This means that other cross-trained Federal law enforcement officers in travel status, including regular Secret Service Agents flying in travel status, cannot and will not be considered to be “Federal Air Marshals” while they are flying on an aircraft. This is important because Quinn, Byers & Company have been padding and hiding the actual numbers of Federal Air Marshals from US Congressional lawmakers by including some or all of the “other” categories of flying federal law enforcement officers, into the total number of actual Federal Air Marshals, including the actual numbers of daily flights that they protect.
Another important fact is that the members of the executive management of the Federal Air Marshal Service belong to a Federal employment category known as the Senior Executive Service (SES). They are Federal appointee managers. These managers have never attended the specific and special air marshal training academies, nor do their duties involve flying on board aircraft full time. They consider themselves to be better than the “rank and file” air marshals, and they have refered to the rank and file air marshals as “bottom feeders” and “amateurs”.
They have also removed themselves from any entitlement to the anonymity and protections provided to Federal Air Marshals by the 2004 Intelligence Reform Bill, because Director Quinn issued internal memorandums stating that the 2004 Intelligence Reform Bill did not apply to Federal Air Marshals (even though the parts of the legislation were specifically created for the Federal Air Marshal Service).
Now where were we?
John Magaw was a former US Secret Service (USSS) agent. Magaw hired another former Secret Service agent by the name of Kevin Hoolihan to be TSA Undersecretary. Magaw then replaced the FAA’s senior Federal Air Marshal with another former Secret Service agent by the name of Thomas Dewey Quinn, thereby making Quinn the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service.
Quinn in turn hired Robert Byers (a former Secret Service agent) and made him the Deputy Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, and together Quinn, Byers & Company began to “rebuild” the executive management of the newly established Federal Air Marshal Service by placing all of his cronies from the Secret Service into six-figured senior executive positions within the Federal Air Marshal Service ranks.
Over the course of a few months, Quinn, Byers & Company demoted or passed over every single one of the original 33 pre-911 Federal Air Marshals, and appointed former Secret Service agents to fill in almost every executive position in the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).
Just who from the US Secret Service actually hijacked the Federal Air Marshal Service after 9/11? Well see for yourself –– the Cronies of the Quinn, Byers & Company read like a who’s who of the retired ranks of the US Secret Service:
*** Following is only a partial list (public information) of the more than 80 former Secret Service cronies (non-flying “FAMs”) that were surreptitiously appointed by Director Quinn, into high-level supervisory positions. But even more egregious, Quinn refused to appoint any of the original 33 Air Marshals into a headquarters high-level management position.
HEADQUARTERS
• FAMS Director Thomas Dewey Quinn – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Deputy Director Robert F. Byers – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Agency Spokesperson David M. Adams – (Former US Secret Service Spokesperson)
• FAMS Assistant Director John A. Novak – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Director Timothy J. Cahill – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Director Michael H. Weikert – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Director Raymond M. Dineen – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Director Colleen B. Callahan – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director George Papantoniou – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director Patrick F. Sullivan – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director Arnold A. Cole – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS “Consultant Contractor” Kevin R. Houlihan – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
IN THE FIELD OFFICES
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Hedges – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Ted S. Hresko – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge James A. Fitton – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge James E. Bauer – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Greba – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Donzanti – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph D’Angelillio – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Charles E. Ortman – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Carl G. Wahl – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Larry Saez – (Former US Secret Service Agent)
These appointments were the first steps in creating an institution of loyal “yes men” who would support and implement all of Director Quinn’s policies –– without question.
Anyone who had any kind of real world experience with counter terrorism or civil aviation security immediately opposed the changes that Quinn, Byers & Company were making to simply put bodies on aircraft, and Quinn and Byers systematically drove these people out of the executive ranks of the service.
The proof?
The problems that began leaking in USA Today in 2002 started almost to the day that Quinn, Byers & Company began their hostile takeover of the Federal Air Marshal Service.
The next step that Quinn and Byers took was filling in the middle management positions with still more loyal supporters to enforce Director Quinn’s policies. Quinn, Byers & Company hired hundreds of US Government retirees whose contracts start at $100,000 a year and go up from there –– and most of these retirees just happen to be “former Secret Service Agents”.
Quinn claims that the middle management is a “fair” mix of experience from many agencies. This is partly true. On the one hand many of the middle managers are retired from other agencies like the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General, the Veteran’s Administration, and the Social Security Administration.
But what Quinn isn’t confessing is that these retiree’s had at one time or another been Secret Service Agents and had simply transferred to the other agencies when the Secret Service became too strenuous for them (an internet search of the terms “government watchdog organizations” will reveal that former USSS agents are taking over nearly every Federal agency, and that most of them are having the same types of problems as the Federal Air Marshal Service).
Quinn, Byers & Company had found a way to take advantage of a loophole in the Secret Service pension plan and a Federal employment category known as Excepted Service, and had hired an entire corps of mercenaries who would have absolutely no problem enforcing his insane and incompetent policies in the field.
The official explanation provided by Quinn and Byers was that the contract supervisors were hired as a temporary measure until replacements could be trained from the new Air Marshal ranks. So why are they still being paid in excess of $100,000 a year nearly four years later, and why have none of them trained their replacements yet?
In late 2002 John Magaw ran afoul of DOT Secretary Norman Mineta (DHS had not been created yet and the TSA was then still part of the DOT). Mineta did not approve of Magaw’s management practices and Magaw was fired / forced to resign. The allegations were widespread, but it is believed that Magaw was mismanaging and misappropriating government funds. Magaw immediately disappeared from government. Kevin Hoolihan (Magaw’s second in command) quietly resigned from the TSA shortly after Magaw for reasons that remain unknown.
What is known is that Hoolihan (a former Secret Service Agent and personal friend of Thomas Quinn and Robert Byers) was then hired by Quinn as a “private consultant to the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service”. In the time that Hoolihan has spent as a “consultant” he has billed the Air Marshal Service for an amount that is estimated to be close to 1 million dollars, for “consultation” on matters that he has no prior experience in, and which any one of the original 33 Federal Air Marshals is easily more knowledgeable about (not one of these original 33 Federal Air Marshals was placed in a position to make or dictate operational or administrative policies).
When Admiral James Loy (Magaw’s replacement) began questioning Quinn’s practices, Quinn, Byers & Company circumvented Loy and lobbied for the Federal Air Marshal Service to be moved out of Loy’s purview and into the troubled Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When Loy left the TSA to become DHS Undersecretary, Quinn, Byers & Company did another evasive zig-zag and moved the Administrative and Personnel portion of the Federal Air Marshal Service back to the TSA, which had now been taken over by other “former Secret Service Agents”.
In fact, the Federal Air Marshal Service (prior to going back to TSA entirely) was the only Federal agency that had its internal operations and functions voluntarily divided between two completely different parts of the Federal Government.
Why?
It is believed that having things spread out in different parts of DHS meant that Quinn, Byers, & Company were the only persons that had all the details about (and control over) what was really going on in the Federal Air Marshal Service.
Many people simply cannot understand or believe how anyone could get away with the things that we have been hearing about at the Federal Air Marshal Service. It’s not so hard to understand once you realize that Quinn, Byers & Company have corrupted the entire institution. Anyone who would be in a position to question policies, procedures, budgets, and ethical issues, is actually part of a “stacked deck” consisting of loyal friends and past coworkers.
Everyone (the public, the media, and the rest of the government) knows that what Quinn, Byers & Company are doing is wrong. Some of senior managers will say, “Well, I didn’t know if that’s accurate”. Others will say, “I was just following orders”. Still others (like Byers) will try to save their own hides one day after Quinn “retires” by saying “Yep. Things are not right. We see that now, and I’m ready to fix them”.
Too late Bob, you’re already tainted.
The other members of the executive management have had four years to put a stop to Quinn, Byers & Company, yet they too have done nothing, and that makes them just as guilty.
There is a word for someone (like a law enforcement officer) who has an official duty to take action (as in report, or “blow the whistle”) when confronted with wrongdoing, and through inaction fails to carry out that duty and allows wrongdoing to continue:
- Malfeasance -

Cindy, #1. You Don’t WORK HERE. #2: They DO make that much. #3: We KNOW the difference between a US MArshal and an Air Marshal. So YOU get YOUR facts straight, and don’t slander a Federal Agent unless you KNOW what you’re talking about.

I’d like to address “Cindy” who seems to know more than Federal Air Marshals. “Cindy” seems to think that its impossible for any federal employee to be making $200,000 a year from the government. Well “Cindy”, to be perfectly honest, you don’t know squat.
It is FACT that the crony retired Secret Service agents in this agency are in fact making $200,000 and more a year from your government. How?
Well all federal employees who retire from the government are of course not allowed to just reapply for another federal job. That’s a no-brainer right? Wrong!
The Secret Service negotiated a sweet deal back in the early 80′s where they do not receive their retirement from the federal government, but instead from a retirement plan negotiated with the District of Columbia, therefore, after Secret Service Agents retire, they can turn right around and apply for yet another federal job at a full salary, while at the same time collecting their full pension from the government! No other federal employees in history have been allowed to do such a thing.
Most retired Secret Service agents take in approximately $75,000 a year in a retirement pension. Now add in their salaries with the Federal Air Marshal Service which START around $125,000 per year. When you add the two together, you get $200,000 and above these retired Secret Service agents are raking in each year.
This is the classic case of “double dipping”. So I say to you “Cindy”, maybe YOU should get YOUR facts straight before questioning the integrity of others who have been living this nightmare in this agency for the past 4 years.

For anyone who thinks Rep. Sensenbrenner is simply grand-standing before the November elections: He beat his last opponent 66% to 32%
http://www.bipac.net/results_by_state.asp?g=AFPA&s=wi

I will post this as a still employed air marshal. The items in this discussion regarding the pay, the mistreatment, the lying, the cheating, the lack of respect is all true. In our office our acting SAC is former SS, our acting ASAC is former SS and no fewer then 2 of our ATSACs are former SS. The 2 that came in as ATSACs came in with absolutely no management experience and have proven it in their 4 years there so far. They are all spineless, coniving weasels that get off on sticking it to real cops. The sooner they all go the better.

Please help us! We need help in this agency. I keep my mouth shut because I have a family to support. After so many things were released to the press by Tom Quinn and his boys I no longer feel safe in the air. I even had my neighbor tell my how I do my job as far as getting on the plane, how many marshals on a flight, what kind of weapon we carry, etc. I can’t believe how things are handeled here in the FAM service. They seem to make up rules as they go. I hope this article will change some things but I will not hold my breath and I will still keep my mouth shut, or untill I find a new job.

If and when Congress opens up this insidious Bush/cronyism bag of worms I think they will be very surprised at the actions of so double-dipping former Secret Service snakes, that believe they are above the law.
As a dedicated Republican I was very disheartened when I learned that President Bush may have allowed the worst form of cronyism to interfere with his judgement when he appointed former Secret Service Agents (body guards), with little or no law enforcement background experience, to head up or be hired in key positions of federal law enforcement agencies.
It has been reported that many of these former Secret Service agents have apparently been performing their duties, unchecked and outside of the law. This is incredible. The fact that Bush has allowed or condoned this LAWLESSNESS through inaction is UNCONCIONABLE. However, it is not the first time that his view of lawlessness has surprised this Republican in recent months. He seems to think that illegal Mexicans, including the 400,000 Mexican felons in our prisons, are IMMIGRANTS…..Go figure.
This is a sad situation for Bush to have created in the name of cronyism and inflicted upon those fine and dedicated (REAL) federal law enforcement individuals that believe in the rule of law and who’s lives and careers have been destroyed by Bush cronies that apparently do not believe that laws apply to them.
It my understanding, that former Secret Service agents think that way since there is absolutely no accountability in the Secret Service Agency.If this is true,apparently Bush’s double dipping Secret Service crony-appointees have carried their “we are above the law” culture mentality into their Bush appointed top leadership federal law enforcement positions.
Since so many Federal Air Marshalls came from within other federal law enforcment agencies, it only goes to reason that they would never stand silent where lawlessness is running amuck within any agency that they are sworn to uphold.
Congress may find that they are only seeing the tip of a “Titanic” sized iceberg.I shudder at the thought of how many exceptional law enforcement/Federal Air Marshals this nation may have lost because of these inept arrogant former Secret Service Bush cronies.
My heart aches for them and their families.We are in debt to them all for their dedication to uphold the law, protect our skies and most of all for their courage to rise above the silent self serving bureaucratic frey to do what they know is right and true.
Edmond Burke said it best, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing”. Many Federal Air Marshall’s have already done something, and it is time for the rest to come forward and stand behind them.This great country needs you, your integrity,your commitment and your courage. God Bless America and those that protect it at home and in combat.

Shawn B. McCullers
FLEOA FAM Agency VP for Health & Safety
I am now a former FAM, but have been asked to continue in my position (Non-Paid) as a FLEOA VP. I am not a FAM anymore because the FAM service has chosen to ignore the Health and Safety standards that are in place based on the FAA and the Aeronautic Medical Branches of the Armed Forces on the physiological tolerances of the human body in relation to flying. Simply, FAMs are being flown to the point that many have failing health from various flight related illnesses. I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness (DVT) as a direct result of the time I spent flying as a FAM. Although there are countless positions in the service that do not require me to fly, they claim to have no position that I can fill. This has been the case for a great many FAMs who have gotten ill as a direct result of flying too much or flying in the manner not conducive to maintaining good physical health. However, their favored FAMs seem to be selected for those positions that do not require flying frequently. This is pattern and practice for the FAM Service Management and easily documented. A truly thorough investigation would easily reveal the truth in my statements.
FAMs are being threatened, targeted, and coerced under threat of termination from speaking about these illnesses and being discouraged from seeking medical care for these illnesses. Further, those that do file anyway are having their Workers’ Compensation claims routinely controverted. (The Agency Claiming the employee did not get hurt as a result of their employment) This has occurred as a matter of standard practice by the FAM Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWCP) Coordinator in coordination with their field offices. This is done to preclude these FAMs from and/or make it harder for them to receive benefits and proper medical care under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA).
FAMs are being harassed for using their sick leave to go to the doctors and for using Family Medical Leave to care for their wives or children. They are being told that they have to reveal their families’ medical issues to their supervisors. The supervisors will then decide if it is a valid issue, in violation of the HIPPA Act at the very least. Many of these supervisors, if not all, are not qualified to fly FAM missions—let alone act as certified licensed medical practitioners.
Some FAMs are being directed by FAM Medical Branch Personnel not to take medication prescribed for their illnesses by their doctors, so that they can continue to fly against medical orders. Many FAMs communicate to me and apprise me that they feel compelled to adhere to this illegal advice “…because I have a family to feed and I cannot afford to lose my job.” So they remain silent and ill…
This is a story that long needs to be told. It is critical to note that what I believe is a culture of corruption and oppression within the FAM Service Management is rampant and the allegations many have made are true. Now it is time to have a full accounting of this criminal behavior. The American People we are charged with protecting deserve better. The current FAM Management is grossly incapable of providing for our mission, in my opinion and the opinions of most of the rank and file FAMs. That is not to say that the rank and file are not up to task, it is the FAM management that is jeopardizing the American Public through gross mismanagement, cronyism, abuse of authority, ineptitude, and malfeasance to name a few ways. I will be standing tall by Frank Terreri’s side awaiting my turn to tell the truth in my testimony. Until then, I will continue to labor for my fellow FAMs in bringing these issues to light. Hold your heads FLYING FAMS, and STAY TRUE TO YOUR OATH.
Shawn B. McCullers
Former Philadelphia FAM

We are begging the public to listen to Congress and what ABC News has uncovered. Be the voice of the Federal Air Marshals that cannot speak for fear of retaliation from former Secret Service employees. The retaliation and threats are real. The fraud, waste and corruption is real. The pain suffered by front line Air Marshals is real.
Please write your Congressmen and tell them to do something other than sign another report acknowledging the crimes. All ex-USSS employees should be placed back into retirement and qualified personnel that care about preventing another 9/11 should lead the FAMS.
Guys are leaving the FAMS for $30K jobs as local cops because they cannot live with the corruption any longer. Yes, a $60K pay cut so that they can respect themselves again. Many of us still care deeply about preventing another 9/11.
I cannot emphasize enough how insane it is to have ex-USSS personnel running this agency. They are the sick joke and laughing stock of federal law enforcement.
FAMS management will tell you the attrition rate here is no different than at any other agency in the federal gov’t. It is the same as they count all the former FBI, Border Patrol and Customs agents that quit to return to their previous jobs as transfers and not losses. Someone that takes a pay cut to return to the FBI is not a transfer. They should be counted as a LOSS to the FAMS. Everyone in the agency worth anything is looking for a different job. This is horrible as it will take a long time to recruit the same caliber people if and when this place is turned around.
Please demand your Congressmen and Senators DO SOMETHING and stop just talking about helping us. PLEASE HELP!!! Write a letter or make at least one call…

In response to Angry Fam, you have every right to be angry ! All Americans should be angry enough to contact everyone in Washington about this systemic ongoing pattern of total disregard for the the law. These are arrogant double dipping former Secret Service agents that were put in their FAM management law enforcement positions because of WHO they knew…NOT because of what they knew
Ofcourse they want to get rid of any and all well qualified real law enforcement personnel in the FAMS…..you only remind them of the fact that they are not qualified for their crony aquired management positions and only keep those positions because they protected and know Presidents.
Why shouldn’t they feel that they are above the law with connections like that ? What difference does it make when they have proven that they have no real management skills , integrety or law enforcement ability ? These are low life individuals that epidomise the truest forms of reaching and exceeding their highest levels of inefficiency and incompetence.
However,this blatent lawlessness and the “cover ups” by management in the Federl Air Marshall Service is beyond eggregeous. Every member of Congress, on both sides of the isle should demand that each and every one of the double dipping former Secret Service agents give up all of their positions immediately without added retirement benefits.
Taxpayers paid through the nose to train Federal Air Marshalls after 9-11 and these arrogant sick cronies are driving highly qualified FAM’s out of their jobs. I have heard rummors that there have even been suicides, among FAM’s, due to unlawful gross mistreatment and retaliation against FAM’s that refused to look the other way when FAM management’s
lawlessness became intollerable.
It is time for all law abiding Americans to tell Congress that it is up to them to uncover the “cover-ups” and see to it that our laws are upheld. No one in our government should ever be allowed to thumb their nose at our laws…least of all, by a bunch of has been glorified body guards with high-up connections.Any and all that have violated the law should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law …. the very same laws that they think they are above.

This is addressed those idiots in the highest levels of our government that feel that they need to find jobs for their retired Secret Service cronies. Why and how do you equate Secret Service experience with law enforcement ? Why did you have to corrupt the federal law enforcement agencies with has-been Presidential glorified body guards ?
Since they are well trained in the fine art of “protection” why not send them all to Iraq to throw themselves in front of some of those real bullets that are killing our fine members of our armed forces. Perhaps they would be less likely to disregard our laws if they saw first hand the REAL price of peace and freedom. They might even get some respect for our laws, that so many Americans gave their lives to protect.
Two legged body armor might be the best and most appropriate job for old Secret Service has-been wannabes. They seem to have proven that they are not qualified for management or LAW ENFORCEMENT !
Somehow, they just didn’t seem to understand that law enforcement is supposed to CATCH the criminals…..as opposed to being the CRIMINALS !

Guys are you confused, they are exempt from meeting the same medical standards as FAMS, DR Weeks said so!
Also the other standards, well they just keep getting remeidal training and than they pass and are good until the next time, they aren’t on flight status so does it really matter. Or are they by their job description? Ummm do they carry a weapon and what does their badge read (we know what it should read)So why attend ACY Training? What is considered investigation experience?
Would like to kow how many investigations which led to convictions and arrest these agents really conducted whilst at the service. What was the problems at Secret Service in the late 90′s early 2000? What was the attitude there, Uniformed vs Agent?
How long do you need to be a Federal Law Enforcement Officer before retirement when you reach what age? How many more years left with these managers?
Boys hold your heads high and know that there are a lot of people who are wannabees and GOD knows! As I have seen many good FAMs come and go because of one reason lack of managment as mangament is a action not a person or position.

Cindy,
No union or other collective bargaining is allowed in the FAMS as it is an excepted service agency. I was never a fan of unions in the past, but this is the exact case where it would help immensely.
The organizing of FAMs in private organizations such as DAMA and FLEOA is all we can accomplish. See http://www.fleoa.org or http://www.airmarshalalliance.org for details and contact info if you are concerned. Why are FAMS forming legal aid associations and retaining attorneys in alarming numbers???
Also, I am in agreement that everything you see on the news is not true. I can assure you that EVERYTHING you see on this ABC News report is true and will not cover it all unless they do a fifteen hour program.
Please do some research on the internet of the lawsuits, media reports and other documents relating to all the issues of corruption and fraud perpetrated by FAMS management.
Please do not be offended by strong responses Cindy. The FAMS is full of type A personalities that truly are patriots to the core. My peers and I came to this agency to say NEVER AGAIN to another 9/11. Every one of us will give our lives to protect you or any other American that may be riding with us. To be stuck trying to survive in an agency being run into the ground by these fools does a lot to anger guys beyond their capacities to cope. A typical case of stupidity here involves a former USSS agent with ZERO career arrests telling a career US Special Forces operator from Delta or the SEALs they do not know what the hell they are talking about because they never protected the Prez. The former Special Forces operator also typically has five to ten years of REAL law enforcement experience doing complex investigations and enforcement operations beyond watching a door knob or trash can behind a hotel. The typical FAM also has either a graduate degree, law degree, pilots training or other specialized training in addition to their undergraduate degree. The typical ex-USSS manager in the FAMS is lucky to have a single undergrad degree. Tell us how they are better qualified again other than through the secret handshake?
Try doing some research on the bonuses given to upper level managers for the rates at which they work their men into the ground. Look into why the FAMS disregards the FAA guidelines for flight hours.
Please do a little research and see what has been going on for some time. ABC has just touched the tip of the iceberg. Let us hope ABC follows up and does more than one sensational story. They need to let the public know what is going on here. We are told to quit if we do not like “the system”.

This is a nother fine example of our tax dollars at work. Everyone is quick to blame what ever president who happens to be in office at the time instead of the people who have failed to do their job. The buck should stop with those people. The public has a right to know the truth what ever that may be.

Some of you posters need to get of the Bush Hate Band Wagon. The cronyism that has corrputed the FAM service has nothing to do with who resides in the White House, democrat OR republican. It’s ALL about Quinn and his bunch of ‘good ol boys’ building their own little empire to run as they see fit.

If there IS corruption, arrogance, and mismanagement in the FAMS that is being committed by these former Secret Service cronies who were in fact at one time “Viet Nam era Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Rangers, Airborne, jet jockies and chopper pilots”, then we shouldn’t be giving them a pass just because of what they PREVIOUSLY did at one time in their lives.
Instead, we should be admonishing these cronies for disrespecting the honest hardworking men and women who still occupy those previous honorable jobs.
These retired Secret Service cronies now running the FAMS are an embarrassment to their country, and frankly, I could give a rats butt what they did before. What matters is what they are doing NOW –– and its criminal.

I joined the FAMS from another Agency, and thought I was on track to make some positive changes. I was stonewalled at every turn by management in headquarters. There needs to be a serious review of the hiring practices at the SES level.

To logic:
In my reply to “A Mad AS Hell Marine!”, I was not saying we should give anyone a pass, “just because of what they PREVIOUSLY did at one time in their lives”.
“A Mad AS Hell Marine!”, had made sweeping statements about the Secret Service that were not correct. I cited the military service examples listed above and made no mention of a “pass”.
I am for justice. If it is determined by people in authority that the accusations are true, then appropriate action should be taken.

Yet another example of the Bush administration treating the White House like a frat house. The corruption and cronyism are so far reaching that you can’t trace it back to a specific starting point. Of course Bush isn’t to blame for it starting, but he’s certainly to blame for allowing it to continue.

i will sit infront of congress and explain the things that need to be explained of how things are messed and how they could be fixed. as a flying fam for 4 years, i have never seen leaders as bad as these guys are. they violet every ethical,moral, and aclu law they can, why because they don’t care… they are only here for the money

Dale-
I still don’t see how a SS agent can possibly work more man hours on investigations than protection when, even as a field agent, you are constantly called out on protection details and then you are dedicated exclusively for a number of years (usually 3 to 5) to protection. So you break up your time in the field between both and then are dedicated exclusively to protection. The hours lean to protection.
My ex-partner would say he had his case all ready to nab and grab and would be told, belay that and grab your gear. You’re off to Africa. That’s what I was talking about, not actual court dates. Protection over prosecution.
Look, the SS operates with incredible levels of support, from SS field personnel to local law enforcement officers (LEOs). We FAMs don’t. We have a small team. Our tactics, shown on national TV by our brilliant leaders, are predicated upon surprise. Our moronic “leaders” dictate we dress up like SS wannabes, parade ourselves in front of the flying public and then show the bad guys exactly how we do it and how we are trained to operate in the even of a hijacking. We have nowhere to run to, no cover or concealment, no backup, nothing. That is absolutely foreign to the SS. And as far as SS effectiveness, don’t make me laugh. Look to the French Secret Service under de Gaulle if you want to see effective. Every single person who wanted to shoot the POTUS in the last twenty years has done so except Squeeky and the only reason she didn’t was there were no bullets in her gun.
The SS mentality is wrong, absolutely wrong, for this job. Counterterrorism in an airplane is world’s different than in an open environment. The whole damn thing is a fatal funnel, which is why Delta trains so long and so hard and have made a specialty out of airplane hijackings. But the SS morons we have in charge think they know better than the Delta guys who train every day in this exact environment, one of the most challenging there is. Counterterrorism on a plane and counterterrorism in an airport are totally different animals. Its the difference in patrol vs. SWAT. Specialized tactics for special environs. Too bad our management can’t be bothered to do any kind of training in this special environment.
Back to the mentality angle for a second, the SS ASAC (number two guy) at our office has been heard saying that 9/11 was just luck, that the hijackers were just lucky amateurs. Yep, that’s the mentality to have all right.
As far as SS guys flying armed, many do, but have received little or no training in specific tactics or problems in that limited environment. If they are flying as part of a protective detail their job is their principle, not the plane. Different methodology all together. I spent 10 years prior to coming to the FAMS as a local cop and as a fed and let me tell you the first time we hit the simulator and let the simmunitions fly it was a different animal completely. No comparison. And for the record, I’ve had three shoot outs in my career, so I know from difficult. I wonder how many of my SS managers have even effected an arrest on a non-complying suspect, wondering if they lost this fight if they would survive. I have. Anyone on patrol for any length of time has. But the SS always hits with overwhelming force, as well they should. They never have to take on some bad guy(s) just themself or with maybe one or two more people. The FAMs live in that enviroment. I wish I could have overwhelming force at my disposal every time I go out.
As far as training by ex-SS, yeah I was there. I worked in the training staff in my office for quite a while. So yes, I know what their training “regimen” is, which is to qual every three months. There were a few ATSAICs (first line supervisors) who would train with their teams but out of 15 teams only about 3 or 4 would, and of those only one would train in the simulator with his team, taking his lumps with them. Just one. None of the rest of them even go in the simulator.
Not one SS guy ever did anything but qual.
I have never talked to another trainer (at train the trainer training) that had a different story. Not one of them has ever said they have SS guys participating in training. Not one, and I ask. It is a fact that no one hired as a ATSAC had to attend any tactical training. Not one lonely little hour.
The SS in my office walk around, patronizing everyone with “get your degree and you’ll move up.” Boy where they surprised when some of us hold higher degrees than they do, myself included. Several of the guys flying are working on their doctorates.
I have never worked for the SS. I know there are good guys and gals in that agency. My ex-partner is one of them and I’d trust him with my life any day. In fact I have. But so far I have been maginficently underwhelmed by the quality of the management that has come from there. That said, I have flown with a number of SS guys and of the ones I have talked to none of them knew how to secure the plane. That may have changed now as many SS guys have had video training on our tactics, but to equate watching a video with actually doing is not even the same ballpark. Seeing is not doing.

THERE IS 900 FAMS WAITING TO GO BACK TO THE BORDER PATROL

Dale-
I apologize for my spleen venting. I am incredibly frustrated with this untenable situation and am taking it out on an agency that has done me no wrong, just many people from there have.
I still stand by my assertion that if I retire from the FAMS and then were to be hired by the SS in a management capacity I would 1) have to go through training in SS specific tactics (as I should) and 2) I wouldn’t have the arrogance to think I was better than the people who do the job day in and day out and actually know what is going on. At the end of the day it would be my call (as I am the supervisor) but I’d be daily mining the experience and knowledge of those people who are doing the job.
Unlike those in management in my agency.
Thanks for the discussion and I again apolgize for my attitude toward you and yours. It was unwarranted.
Stay low and watch that six.

I know all about the FAMS before and after 9 11. Hard work, Dedication, Loyalty, Initiative and Inventiveness get you nothing. To be promoted you must be of the chosen few and it would help to have USSS stamped behind your name. If you were a failure this is also helpful. Take a look at the leadership in Newark, once a premier office in the agency. How does an office that size rate two ASACs? Now that should be looked into. Two ASACs and the positions were never announced. Pick by Quinn I suppose but Why should be the question? HQ knows all about them but lets them destroy the morale anyway. USSS former agents now ATSACs are paid 10 to 15K more than other ATSACs. Most do their job but thats about all. To do extra is not in their vocabulary.

Cindy,
Excepted service agencies do not allow collective bargaining or unions of any type by definition. That, combined with the fact that you do not understand the DC Fire and Metro Pension system as it applies to retired USSS employees, clearly states to everyone that you have little idea what you are talking about. Federal Air Marshals are GS-1801s and 6c employees. US Marshals and Deputy Marshals are different employees and working for a different agency. Please comment once you have your facts straight.
Until then, rest easy at night knowing that you are protected well by people you do not understand.

To add to what Super Mad said,
Do the investigators that should have stopped unlawful activities by these FAM management individuals need to be investigated too ? What oversight agencies within our government failed in their duties and responsibilities?
If these former Secret Service agents feel that they are above the law and can get away with it, how corrupt was the culture that they came from ? If they have fellow SS cronies that have also been put in key management oversight positions who is going to do the investigating ?
Since Fam’s come from varied law enforcement backgrounds and are most likely well aware of the unlawful acts, perpetrated by management, they would be very qualified to investigate and fully document any and all alleged unlawfull acts.
Citizens should sink their teeth into this problem and not let go until something is done about it.
We need to take the bureaucratic self serving mentality out of government and put integrity back in it’s place. From what I can see or remember, these Fams are the first large group of government employees that that have ever sacrificed their careers in order to take a stand against internal management corruption.
We as citizen must hold these corrupt individuals accountable and see to it that they are prosicuted to the fullest extent of the law. That is the least we can do for these brave FAM’s.

Sensenbrenner said officials of the Air Marshal program “stonewalled” his staff and retaliated against air marshals who tried to reveal problems.
“This report should have come out a year ago had we gotten even minimal cooperation from the Air Marshal service,” Sensenbrenner said.
“I think the American public will be shocked,”
This pretty much sums it up. I hope people will listen to this. It is not right for dedicated FAMS to have to put up with these incompitant self serving SS guys anymore. I have never worked with a more well rounded, intelligent and extremely talented group of individuals as I have with the FAMS (to exclude upper management).
There are good men and women here with more experience than I have seen in any other local or Federal Law Enforcement outfit I have been with (there have been several). For us to be looked down on and treated the way we are is absolutely unacceptable and just plain sad. There is no reason for this mistreatment by management. Something must be done. More of us need to stand up for ourselves and make the truth known.

Recently our Senator contacted DHS and the FAM service to inquire into allegations made by some of his constituents. The reply he received from the FAM service was “it is our internal policy that we don’t have to tell you anything…go $*#& yourself”. I received this information directly from the senator’s aid who was going to pass the information onto the Homeland Security Oversight Committee.
We have an agency that not only blatantly defies laws, rules and regulations…they now fail to cooperate with a formal senatorial inquiry. Who are these people that they can get away with this sort of blatant action? They are the true untouchables and appear to be above the law.

It is disgusting when ex-Secret Service managers are bumping FAMs from international trips before Christmas so they can go on shopping trips overseas. Others actually ask their subordinate FAMs to smuggle them back cheap Viagra from overseas. All this and they feel as they are somehow gifted because of their backgrounds.
The flying FAM has very little respect for the SS after their work here. The typical FAM sees the average ex-SS agent as someone trained only to watch doorknobs and dumpsters and yell “Nooooooooooooooo” as they jump in front of rounds when things go to hell.
It is pretty bad when a former Border Patrol Agent with HUNDREDS of arrests is being managed by fools with a combined ZERO career arrests. What is morale like in that organization?

Where can you make approximately $100,000 or more a year without college education. It sickens me to read all the complaining and whinning the FAMs are doing when in fact more than 75% of them can not complete their time & attendance report and travel vouchers without major errors. To solve this problem, FAM should have to take an IQ test before hired. ONLY IN AMERICA.

Lee-
You are obviously management. Your post clearly reflects the contempt that I was talking about. Just because someone doesn’t have a degree doesn’t mean they are not educated or trained well to do a job. I’ve met plenty of people with advanced degrees that were dumber than a box of rocks when it came to common sense. I have also met people like you that look down their nose at people who don’t have a degree or went to “the wrong school”. Just shows how shallow you really are. That’s okay, I suppose you like the fact that it just deepens the rift between management and the rank and file. I don’t want to be management; I just want to do my job without being told how I should thank you everyday I have it. I just want to do my job without being told how to do it by someone who has never done it, never made an arrest in their entire career, and then proceeds to tell me how great of a cop they are. I want to do my job without having to worry about my lack of wearing a sports-coat being a firing offense. If appearance and “commanding respect if we need to take action” is so important, just put me in a uniform, so I can stop with this charade, wink-wink nudge-nudge crap, as I get paraded about in the airport. I wish you well with your elitist attitude, I’m sure you have some pressing matters to attend, like correcting a time sheet or micromanaging your team.

As a current TSA screener, I can vouch for the fact that FAM’s are sitting ducks. You can see one approaching a checkpoint from a mile away. They all have the same haircut, clothes and luggage basically. When 20/20 is done with the FAM’s please take a good hard look at the TSA next. If the American public is outraged at the FAM program, they’ll be frothing at the mouth if they knew what’s going on in TSA. More ineptness, corruption and cronyism per taxdollar then you could imagine.

This is certainly an interesting topic. I have tried to read of the all messages posted here. I am not yet converted from my initial neutral side, to being in the FAM operators’ corner (although I lean in that direction). I saw the FAM on 20/20…he came off as being professional and gave a credible presentation.
Permit me make a few observations here as an LEO retiree with no employment stake in either side of the argument…just being a member of the flying public, and of course a taxpayer. My idea is to address only those comments coming from present and former FAMs since the general public, like me, does not have first hand knowledge of your agency.
I have read the numerous comments about how FAM is corrupt at all levels and their IG or IA is inept and even criminal, willing to look the other way as their “cronies get a by”. I acknowledge this must be an emotional subject for the FAM operators. I have read the dozens of posts calling for something to be done, and in many cases the opinion that nothing will be done, i.e. a business as usual attitude.
If it has been mentioned here, then I missed it…has any past or present FAM gone to the FBI with a formal complaint of criminal conduct, or even an informal complaint? With all of the criminal acts that are alleged to have been committed, detail them and present them to an FBI office having jurisdiction in that particular district. The FBI can be a dogged investigative organization if given accurate info to go on (no, I am not retired FBI).
Whether intentional on their part or just their SOP…I have read nothing quoted by FAMS HQ that affirms or denies rank and file’s allegations. By ignoring these charges and stonewalling Congressman Sensenbrenner (the way the Congressman says he had been stonewalled) FAMS HQ does nothing to help their position. I look forward to reading his committee’s report.
Here is where I think you are hurting yourselves…first, with the excuse that FAMS supervisors get a pass because of all the connections they have with the White House and President Bush. This indicates to me that the commenter(s) have been watching too many conspiracy shows. Ask Scooter Libby how far his influence went in preventing him from being indicted for obstruction of justice and perjury re FBI interviews in 2003. Look at the LA Congressman who had n FBI search warrant executed just last night at his Rayburn Bldg office on Capitol Hill.
Or do you think the FBI is as corrupt as you say the Secret Service is? I don’t say that in a sarcastic manner. I have seen a lot of stones thrown at the SS in the blog. Some commenters have made a distinction of the FAMS supervisors being retired or former SS, while many others have lumped your whole outfit’s supervisors into a single group of corrupt, good ole boy SS. If they are as lazy, incompetent and bad as you say they are, then the public should be asking how Amy Carter ever made it to her 18th birthday, let alone Presidents never having been harmed during this age of robust terrorism. To say your FAM supervisors are protected by the White House does in fact smack of “Bush-hating”.
I have read about the retired SS agents who are now FAMS supervisors. But, I have read only two FAMS supervisors prominently mentioned by several bloggers. Other criticism refers to that supervisor in NJ or TX or this supervisor in NY or IL. If you have the goods, then perhaps you should show them and begin to name names. I am glad I am not in a position where to speak out means sanctions or even possibly losing my job. But I will invoke the “for evil to survive…good men doing nothing” clause here.
A few questions I have…If it is not classified, can you tell me what kind of hours a FAM works in a particular month, i.e. 40 a week, 60 the next, 50 the next two? Also, is a college degree required for FAMs? Do FAMS actually make $100k a year with benefits or was someone trying to discredit your cause?

Law Dawg,
If you speak with a Dept. of Labor Criminal Investigator or the FBI or any competant employment law attorney you will find these ‘crimes’ are IN FACT criminal violations of the US Code. See Title 18 and what it says about the duty of a federal employee not to obstruct another federal employee in the process of obtaining their health benefits. I know of a couple criminal investigations already ongoing. We have had bosses tell FAMs that their injury on an RON is an off-duty injury and not covered. That is their excuse for throwing their CA-1 in the garbage.
Most FAMs are too scared to stand up for themselves. They have been beat down too long.
Enough of the excuses. FAMs need to stand up for what is right and correct and legal. Join and then call FLEOA for legal assistance when something stinks.
Yes, there has been much CRIMINAL ACTIVITY going on in the FAMS.

It’s too funny reading all of the reader comments on Brian Ross’s blotter. How many complainers actually voted last election? I know very few people that actually did vote. They were too busy drinking and driving, and even when sober too stupid to understand. The real America, it’s very real and will never change.

hi former and current flying FAMS
I was interviewed at Irvin, Ca. field office last July 2006.
2 days after the interview, i got a call from the HR officer, saying that they placed me into speeding hiring process. Then I needed to fly to DC for another interview! “The only catch” as she said on the phone, I had to pay for my own tickets!!!!!
I checked online, RT tickets from SFO-IAD was 600 bucks (shortnoticed, only 2 days coming the new interview).
What did it mean, gentlemen?
Then next I had to pay flights to New Jersey and Artesia NM too?
and would I have any flight benefit to fly back from my station IAD to home SFO whenever I need to?
Please help me to shed light on these questions.