Federal Air Marshal Spencer Pickard Grounded
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Federal Air Marshal Spencer Pickard was officially grounded this week, after an ABC News interview in which he said his bosses were putting the flying public at risk.
Pickard says he was put on "training" status for the "indefinite future."
On Wednesday, House Judiciary Chairman James Sensebrenner released a damning report on the Federal Air Marshal Service calling it "unacceptable for Federal Air Marshal management to be oblivious to problems facing their organization."
The Congressional report included allegations from Pickard and other federal air marshals who had urged the committee to investigate. Sensenbrenner told ABC it was time to overhaul the management of the service. "They’re arrogant and the time has come to shape up," the Chairman said.
The Transportation Security Administration, which operates the air marshal service has refused to respond directly to Pickard’s allegations and requested that Sensebrenner’s staff redact their comments in the report for "security reasons."
The TSA did agree to a two week review of the operation of the Denver office, after five air marshals appeared in silhouette on ABC’s Denver 7 NEWS, alleging mismanagement, including a claim that an armed Air Marshal supervisor was found sleeping during a flight.
"The American people aren’t safe, and neither are the marshals," said one Denver-based air marshal to reporter Tony Kovaleski.
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What is amazing is the amount of lying the FAMS does and how they get away with it. The report notes all the lies the FAMS told Congress and then goes on to quote the current FAMS administration who continue to lie, saying these policies have changed. What a joke.
Posted by: law dawg | June 9, 2006, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
ABC writes this piece and never once mentions that the biggest complaint by the air marshals is their lame and compromising dress code mandated by their agency???
“An” air marshal sleeping? One??
Oh, please. The public is way ahead of you on this not so new or sensational story.
Posted by: penny | June 9, 2006, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
I already left the Denver Office, but I am afraid of how they still might come and retaliate upon me. I have heard some recently resigned FAMs were behind the latest cry for help from Denver in the media. Denver is not much worse than anywhere else. The ex-USSS cronyism and mismanagement leaves the whole agency a mess. Why DHS did not go with Don Strange is really upsetting… He is the one man capable of fixing that place.
My friends still trying to quit the job in Denver are not too hopeful about the upcoming investigations. They seem to agree that any management review done through TSA will result in a cover-up and a continuation of the retaliation.
Hang in there brothers.
Posted by: Scared former FAM | June 9, 2006, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
As an airline employee, I can tell you that some Marshals expect preferred treatment. They want to board the airplane before boarding has begun for the passengers. I thought they were suppossed to blend in with the passengers?
Posted by: Rick8548 | June 9, 2006, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
The response fromn the TSA to the extract is completely disconnected from reality.
Boarding: They claim that they have fixed problems with boarding since 7-25-05. I can assure everyone that this is a lie. I boarded several times today in full view of about half the passengers on my flights. Our current boarding procedures are just as poorly drafted as they were prior to 7-25-05. There are even FAM’s that have been disciplined for not following the OLD procedures in some filed offices.
Dress code and Grooming: This is another lie. The “changes” in the dress code on 4-28-05 are still insufficient to maintain our cover. Upper mangement definition of “casual” is much different thatn the general publics definition. (but I suppose they slapped a Top Secret classification on their “definition” so that nobody but flying FAMs are privy to it)
The grooming standards were not eased until the bearded Michael Chertoff became Director of Homeland Security. (Prior to his appointment flying FAMs were told repeatedly that people with facial hair were unprofessional and could not be taken seriously)
Lodging Policy; The problems regarding lodging were minimal…..until HQ began to make policy on it. The changes HQ implemented on 8-17-04 made a mountain out of a molehill. HQ restricted the hotels that flying FAMs could book to only a few per city. It resulted in a perverted system of flying FAMs competing against one another for limited rooms that hotels set aside for government per diem rate. In other words, HQ created a problem that hadn’t existed prior to the infamous and clearly unethical “Hotel List.” The new “improvement project” being implemented has already proven to be a complete failure , yet HQ now plans to expand what they called a pilot project. (I thought the whole point of a “pilot project” was to evaluate and either drop or adopt.) HQ’s has chosen to adopt regardless of the negative feedback from flying FAM’s who are the only people effected by this “project” It appears that someone “connected” has received a lucrative contract to expand the project (Gee, I wonder who got that contract?)
Employees Standards of Conduct; the changes implemented on 8-26-05 were also poorly drafted. (of course they are “Top Secret” After all, we wouldn’t want the terrorist’s to know our sick leave policy)
In regards to the Standards of Conduct, there is absolutely no system to appeal any accusation lodged against a flying FAM. You arte basically at the mercy of management and flying FAM’s i general have no faith or trust that management will be fair and ethical.
For example, Dallas field office routinely disciplines flying FAM’s who are rarely given a chance to defend themselves. The ATSACS(first-line supervisors)who know their teams best often tryh to defend their flying FAM’s against erronious complaints by gate agents or flight attendents(who don’t know our policies)However, the ASAIC, who is a pathetic human being rarely takes evidence into consideration. As a result, men of good integrity are punished for petty hearsay. The punishment is routinely both arbitrary and excessive.
The so-called 13 working groups are the quintessential example of why the agency has failed. These are called “FAM focus groups” The only problem is that there is little to none flying FAM participation. The reason there is no participation is because upper management hand-picked all the participants. I cna count on one hand the number of “FAMS” chosen to voice their opinions.
But it is even worse, because then FAM’s picked in many cases are not even flying FAMs(we are out there working for their bonuses)
Dallas, one of the largest field offices sent the SAIC and a FAM who the SAIC hand-picked (Gee, I wonder who the new ATSAC at Dallas office will be.) By the way, the so-called FAM that was chosen from Dallas office works in operations and rarely flies.
After a little digging, I discovered this is the modus operundi of the FAM focus groups.
These echo-chambers have not yielded any noticable changes as yet.
In fact, every position is well represented except for the people who are in the field. The flying FAM’s (Attention upper management……field office does not mean field.
PDA’s The circumstances behind the first PDA debacle would have resulted in criminal indictments if there was competent oversight.
The new PDA’s are better, but the requirement to wear them on our person could blow our cover. I have already overheard airport employees (who are not even trained in countersurveillance)saying that all FAM’s wear that type of PDA.
As a final note, I rather enjoyed the intimidating nature of the TSA’s last sentence.
“TSA also supports the Committee’s position that unauthorized disclosures of SSI cannot be tolerated and warrants further inquiry.”
This sentence was classified as “Sensitive Security Information”
Congress should scrutinize the TSA official response and place the drafters of this document under oath. I am confident they will try to mislead congress.
Congress and the media need to here from flying FAM’s directly for the real truth since the management is only interested in appearing to listen to us.
The most pressing issue is the disconnect between those who fly and those who make policy.
The policies will remain shoddy and the disconnect will only continue until this cadre of management retires (again)
Posted by: anonymous | June 9, 2006, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
Hey Rick, Marshals don’t expect preferred treatmen. It is in our regulations that we board before the passengers to talk to the crew.
Posted by: WOW1972 | June 9, 2006, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
Rick,
You have proven that you must toss bags and have no real knowledge of this issue. Please be nice with my Samsonite.
Thanks,
A Business Flyer
Posted by: Bill | June 9, 2006, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
Rick,
We have been fighting for over 4 years to be able to board with passengers. We have been ORDERED by our retired Secret Service managers to preboard in front of the passengers! We are not expecting preferred treatment, we just want to stay alive.
Posted by: New York Air Marshal | June 10, 2006, 12:29 am 12:29 am
I think that we need to just quit doing things the way HQ tells us to. I have quit pre-boarding and the pilots have been very supportive. I became a passenger and figured out a way to contact the pilots and let the crew know without giving away my position. The rest of you should too! They do not and will never, care about you, so….. protect yourself, the crew, the passengers by getting smart and just do it your way. Go home to your family at the end of the day or the end of the mission.
Semper Fi!
Posted by: jarhead | June 10, 2006, 1:46 am 1:46 am
Here’s a new one! At the Chicago office, people who traveled on International flights are being audited. Most left at some time during the day (from somewhere in Europe) and landed in the evening in Chicago. However, the length of time they worked would have been the equivalent of working until the following morning (if you stay with the time zone they began in) because they lost 6 to 8 hours because they were flying east to west around the globe. THE OFFICE IS BEING AUDITED AND THEY ARE DEMANDING THE RETURN OF PER DIEM FUNDS THAT WERE PAID FOR THIS TIME because they say that they landed before midnight!!!! That’s ridiculous! They’re taking away money because they traveled from east to west and lost 6, 7, or 8 hours???? Sounds like possible retaliation for other matters to me!
Posted by: name withheld | June 10, 2006, 5:31 am 5:31 am
This is why Norm Mineta should have been cut loose years ago. Debbie Schlussels blog has been tracking the incompetent fool for a long time. He and Julie Myers are two of the most ludicrous appointments Ive seen. The ICE Princess is the laughing stock of the entire organization. She and DHS have the agents furious now as they have been told there WILL be a guest worker program NO MATTER WHAT and they are already hiring hundreds of Adjudicators for the oncoming onslaught of workers and then lawsuits from all the immigration apologists lawyers.
Posted by: mrbill | June 10, 2006, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Penny,
It was the leader of the entire Denver office. Listen to the story. It is huge as it shows the disconnect between management and the guys who actually do the job.
Tom
Posted by: Tom Fed | June 10, 2006, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Reading these blogs, you have to conclude that these Air Marshall folks are afraid of retaliation; if you dont keep following up on this story, their story will simply disappear and with it, our security.
Posted by: SPENCER ADAMS | June 10, 2006, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Reading the report and seeing that nothing has occurred speaks volumes. At this point I see nothing happening. If I lie to management I get days off or I get fired but if management lies to congress they get to keep their jobs with no punishment. These guys seem untouchable.
They are simply claiming that they are working on the problems. How long does it take? The current director has been around since before his promotion. He knows the issues, yet nothing has has ocurred.
The report also agrees with their hotel policy since they have to know where we are in case of emergency. I agree with that also, but it doesn’t mean that i have to stay at one of their choice hotels. I’ve already seen their hotel choices in action: no food in walking distance, horrible gym, no internet, and horrible service. The only perk we had is now gone. Time to jump ship!
Posted by: sad fam | June 11, 2006, 5:16 am 5:16 am
The hotel and travel policy of this agency is complete fraud. If you see it otherwise, you must be one of the upper level managers engaged in the waste and empire building. It really is a bunch of waste. Do a FOIA asking how many FAMs already filed fraud, waste and abuse complaints on the hotel policy.
Byers has implied to FAMs the travel policy is a simple retaliation for FAMs complaining to Congress about anonymity. Fine, complain to Congress – we will pick your hotel and endanger you that way.
The lying and fraud and stupidity of Tom Quinn is still alive and festering.
Posted by: WFO FAM | June 11, 2006, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Answer this: Why is it that our Headquarters management has let the airline industry dictate to the FAMS how we must get our tickets pass through security checkpoints and board aircraft? Most, but not all, airline ticket agents,gate agents, and Ground Security Coordinators, have this ridiculous if not asinine operational security process that they must see our identification in front of God and everybody? Then treat us like we’re second hand Law Enforcement…..and really couldn’t be bothered by it.. They act as if security means nothing to them. Of course, they…are the ones not flying!! Many times I’ve boarded an aircraft and had to show my credentials to nearly every crew member because they just had to see them to make sure I’m who I say I am. Enough is enough! We’re there for the security of the aircraft, flight crew and passengers… Don’t belittle us and don’t treat us like we’re the bad guys. We are all on the same side! If you’d like to see our credentials, do so discreatly and politely instead of with the attitude that you’re better than we are. As for boarding procedures, well we’re told to do just that so we can identify ourselves to the pilot and crew. Then you criticize us because we board if front of everyone. Doesn’t matter that you needed to see our Creds in front of everyone and destroyed our anonymity. Does anyone know discretion? Fix the problems for everyones sake!
Posted by: Frustrated FAM | June 11, 2006, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
I heard a rumor the Boston Office will have their own expose’ on ABC News next. Just about every office is as bad as Denver.
Maybe the public and Congress will listen.
Posted by: Wife of FAM | June 11, 2006, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm
The problem with this agency is that unqualified personnel are in charge. How can DHS let Don Strange go and leave the SS mafia in charge?
The answer is so simple.
Install a leader with real experience and let him lead. The agency seems to be a total failure in its current form.
Posted by: Leaving FAMS Soon | June 13, 2006, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
The problems with the agency just keep getting worse. EVERY Field Office needs to be investigated for the same issues that are happening in Denver and Las Vegas. These problems are not isolated, they are system wide. HQ will say that it is a small minority that are making noise, when in fact it is the majority.
Posted by: Current FAM | June 13, 2006, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm
Brother FAMS…Take note of the real opportunities that await each of you within law enforcement entities other that the debacle called the FAM Service. I did, and I encourage each of you to do so as well. We are well recieved, well respected, and genuinely desired within many law enforcement agencies for what we bring to the table as true professionals. Simply apply for a job as a cop, trooper, agent, or deputy and you will see what I mean. When I left the FAM Service, I had to choose between great offers. The same awaits each of you. Cut your losses and get back to doing something that matters. We all know that the FAM Service is dead and buried. Just watch and see what they do to FAM Pickard and know that the same or worse awaits those who stay.
Posted by: real cop again | June 17, 2006, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm