95 replies to this topic

[Ozark Noodler]

NRT has ceased to be relevant in major urban areas

That's not true. Urban areas that have worked with the NRT, trained with NRT members at the ATF Advanced O&C courses, and who have regular contact with ATF's CFIs and CESs have a great deal of interest in utilizing the NRT when large scale fires or explosions occur. Sadly, they make the effort to have the team activated, only to be turned down in some instances. The turn downs don't come with much of an excuse. Word gets around fairly quickly that requests have been denied. SAC Potter was adamant not to use the NRT in his division, a division which had previously utilized the NRT quite often. Former AD Mike Bouchard, who was actually an NRT member at one point, threatened the SACs with denying them their SES bonuses if they used the NRT. Mike Bouchard and former ASAC Phil Horbert (also part of the NRT)actually bad-mouthed the NRT, the CES, and especially the CFIs to outside agencies when in attendance at Chief type of conferences. ATF HQ has long forgotten the 80's, when the insurance industry fought to save the agency. HQ believes the fire/explosives work of the agency is irrelevant, and only firearms are the important issue. GIven thier continued poor decision making, soon the agency will be defunct, or renamed the Bureau of Firearms Enforcement. THE truly irrelevant part of ATF is the effort to overstaff major urban field offices with numerous "gun" agents, who wind up having to take most cases to state court and who tend to let the local TFOs do the majority of the work to produce those cases. "Gun" agents would be far more productive in working federally prosecuted cases if they were in medium size cities and rurual regions. Kansas City Field Division (not a metropolitan mecca)leads ATF year after year in case production, case prosecutions, and numbers of defendants. Not LA, not NY, but Kansas City.

[GoodWorker]

[quote name='Doc Holiday' timestamp='1303483489' post='2149']
Nice. So Typical. Garbage in garbage out.
[/

Check out the stats on the attached docs. The FBI is approximately 6 times larger than ATF.

Attached Files

•  atf complaint stats.pdf   44.09KB   172 downloads
•  fbi complaint stats.pdf   46KB   97 downloads

[Doc Holiday]

Nice. So Typical. Garbage in garbage out.

January 2011, Office of the Inspector General audits our GEMSTONE program, the National Response Team. Below are excerpts taken directly from the Official report. After reviewing the below comments, consider what options are available to ATF with regards to the senior manager in charge of this program based on his leadership and performance.
#1 He could be demoted.
#2 He could be transferred and demoted.
#3 He could be fired.
#4 He could be forced to have remedial training, elevate his leadership skills and be placed back into a leadership position.
After all, his leadership failed across the board, cost taxpayers millions and decimated one of our best programs. This manager also played a huge role in ATF being stripped of our primary explosive jurisdiction due to poor management and poor implimentation. SO, which option (1,2,3 or 4) do you think Mr. Melson and crew chose? They promoted him to an SES position. Yep you heard it, they promoted him to a new program. This is why our credibility is shot with Congress and our judgements are being questioned by every oversight mechanism in the United States Government.

EXCERPTS
On the other hand, our audit identified weaknesses relating to the utilization, effectiveness, and management of the NRT Program.
In addition, we identified other areas in need of improvement within the management of the NRT Program. For example, we determined that ATF’s policies and regulations relating to the NRT Program, such as the requirement to perform routine inspections of NRT response vehicles and hazardous materials (hazmat) equipment, were not being followed.Further, NRT management was not monitoring the use of the vehicles and equipment and therefore did not have basic information to make informed decisions about adding or replacing existing equipment.

We also found problems in the supervision and oversight of the NRT Program, including frequent turnover in NRT management positions, inadequate interaction between NRT Program management and team members, and ATF’s inability to provide basic program information such as accurate data on NRT activations. We also found that these problems resulted in low morale among NRT members.

For example, the NRT Handbook states that the Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch Chief, with assistance from NRT team leaders, will conduct annual internal reviews of each NRT region. The Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch Chief informed us that he never performed any of these internal reviews.Limited Management Involvement
The Chief of the Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch in Washington, D.C. oversees the NRT Program and is the first-line supervisor for the NRT team leaders and full-time members. However, the full-time NRT members commented to us that they had little contact with NRT managers in ATF headquarters and expressed concerns that management conducted performance evaluations without interacting with them.

During our interviews with NRT members, many discussed the management issues described above and stated that these issues caused low morale among the team members and negatively affected their confidence in NRT management.We identified other issues associated with the oversight of the NRT Program, including communication weaknesses, turnover in NRT management positions, the inability to provide basic program information, and low morale among the NRT team members.
We met with ATF executive managers and informed them that a majority of the NRT team members we interviewed indicated they had low morale and a lack of confidence in headquarters management.

The entire report may be found at http://www.justice.g...s/ATF/a1109.pdf

[ProConfesso]

NRT has ceased to be relevant in major urban areas

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

January 2011, Office of the Inspector General audits our GEMSTONE program, the National Response Team. Below are excerpts taken directly from the Official report. After reviewing the below comments, consider what options are available to ATF with regards to the senior manager in charge of this program based on his leadership and performance.
#1 He could be demoted.
#2 He could be transferred and demoted.
#3 He could be fired.
#4 He could be forced to have remedial training, elevate his leadership skills and be placed back into a leadership position.
After all, his leadership failed across the board, cost taxpayers millions and decimated one of our best programs. This manager also played a huge role in ATF being stripped of our primary explosive jurisdiction due to poor management and poor implimentation. SO, which option (1,2,3 or 4) do you think Mr. Melson and crew chose? They promoted him to an SES position. Yep you heard it, they promoted him to a new program. This is why our credibility is shot with Congress and our judgements are being questioned by every oversight mechanism in the United States Government.

EXCERPTS
On the other hand, our audit identified weaknesses relating to the utilization, effectiveness, and management of the NRT Program.
In addition, we identified other areas in need of improvement within the management of the NRT Program. For example, we determined that ATF’s policies and regulations relating to the NRT Program, such as the requirement to perform routine inspections of NRT response vehicles and hazardous materials (hazmat) equipment, were not being followed.Further, NRT management was not monitoring the use of the vehicles and equipment and therefore did not have basic information to make informed decisions about adding or replacing existing equipment.

We also found problems in the supervision and oversight of the NRT Program, including frequent turnover in NRT management positions, inadequate interaction between NRT Program management and team members, and ATF’s inability to provide basic program information such as accurate data on NRT activations. We also found that these problems resulted in low morale among NRT members.

For example, the NRT Handbook states that the Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch Chief, with assistance from NRT team leaders, will conduct annual internal reviews of each NRT region. The Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch Chief informed us that he never performed any of these internal reviews.Limited Management Involvement
The Chief of the Arson and Explosives Enforcement Branch in Washington, D.C. oversees the NRT Program and is the first-line supervisor for the NRT team leaders and full-time members. However, the full-time NRT members commented to us that they had little contact with NRT managers in ATF headquarters and expressed concerns that management conducted performance evaluations without interacting with them.

During our interviews with NRT members, many discussed the management issues described above and stated that these issues caused low morale among the team members and negatively affected their confidence in NRT management.We identified other issues associated with the oversight of the NRT Program, including communication weaknesses, turnover in NRT management positions, the inability to provide basic program information, and low morale among the NRT team members.
We met with ATF executive managers and informed them that a majority of the NRT team members we interviewed indicated they had low morale and a lack of confidence in headquarters management.

The entire report may be found at http://www.justice.g...s/ATF/a1109.pdf

[Iceman]

To ALL the Special Agents in Charge who are being called to HQ next week, remember, IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM. If you attend and DO NOT voice your disgust and act like MY Sac and ASACs with the attitude, "Theres nothing I can do", Turn in your SES Grade because you dont deserve it. And Dont even try the "I'm just being a good soldier". We are NOT soldiers, we are Federal Agents. That good soldier argument didnt work for the Nazis at Nuremburg, or for Lt. Calley at My Lai. And it wont work for you. The day of personal and professional accountability is upon us all.

[Iceman]

While we are taking a joke break, lets talk ATF ASAC. See if you can match the character traits (or more accurately flaws) with one of our stellar leaders. CLUES: He has taken time ON THE BEACH not once but twice for extremely inappropriate and predatory on duty sexual misconduct with informants or subordinates. He claims U.S.M.C. but was the one characterized by the well known Marine Corps monicker "that 10%". Indicative of that 10% who accidentally slipped through the cracks and were allowed in the U.S.M.C. After having his ticket pulled and realizing even his protector DD Billy Hoover couldn't even save his wasted career, he acted out and began sporting a really cute earring while still an Assistant Special Agent in Charge. After years of abusing Special Agents who challenged his draconian unethical conduct,his arrogance caught up to him and he immediately betrayed his management peers and ran begging a deal to save his own ass. GOT IT YET? FINAL CLUE: At 50 years old he decided it was time to graduate man school and get some MAD INK. Yep a tattoo. Wait for it......Wait for it........ Yep, a tattoo of his girls name on his calf. Yep, on his Calf. After 20 + years of stealing a pay check, he has Street Cred. Any guesses?

[Doc Holiday]

Nicely done Ike. Should send that one to Jay Leno

Time out for a little ATF humor.... (for those that missed it on the internet)




Hmmmm. What did they expect to find? Cupcakes?
Enjoy!

[GoodWorker]

Jumper, I was going to blow the survey off but thought about it and decided to do it after all. My reasoning is this: ATF has slipped year after year in these surveys and Chait, Hoover, Melson, Carter, Ford, Carroll, Stinnett, Sullivan, Domenech and their crew have for years been able to explain it away or make excuses, even as we were in free fall. The timing of this is good because if the working agents vote as they should, I bet we will drop well below 50th or even 75th place, which would be some kind of record. This is the sort of slap in the face outsiders notice. It is like a vote of no confidence for the last few years. You are right - good things or bad things to say, if all you can do is talk smack in your cubes from the sidelines without taking action of some sort, then keep quiet. This is a good way (the survey) to make your voice heard. The time to act is now. Sorry for the rant - just one agent's opinion.

People,

ATF canNOT fire you for saying you have low morale. Stand up and be heard.

[abteilung]

In reference to the OPM survey, does Headquarters think the poll is the equivalent of American Idol voting? Mr. Melson, did you approve the wording of the announcement that was sent out in that e-mail? If not, and now that you are aware of it, do you approve of the language? Do you encourage "ballot-stuffing" or do you want honesty?
This is not a bunch of 12 year old girls deciding whether to vote for the best singer or for that "really cute guy." This is far more serious. Instead of being concerned with the image of ATF getting back into the Top Ten (which I sincerely doubt can ever happen, unless voting is done the Chicago Way Vote Early, Vote Often!).
Instead of trying to artificially inflate our numbers, let's work at the real problems with this agency:
1. Dangerously low morale amongst the rank-and-file;
2. A public image [both with the American taxpayer and with Congress] that is sinking ever lower with each passing day;
3. A senior executive cadre running this agency which has the integrity of a third world junta.

Don't slap some fresh paint on a rundown shack. Tear the eyesore down and rebuild. THAT will get ATF back into the top ten.

But guess what--that ain't going to happen, not under ACTING Director Melson's watch. Not with Chait, Hoover, McMahon and the rest running the show.

Bye Bye, ATF. All 1811's, get your PIN for the ICE/HSI announcement before that ship sails.

[Ike]

Time out for a little ATF humor.... (for those that missed it on the internet)




Hmmmm. What did they expect to find? Cupcakes?
Enjoy!

[Doc Holiday]

Mr. Melson can quibble about data but the data dont lie. ITS ON HIS WATCH. Lack of trust and confidence in our leadership was the area we saw the most decline last year. This years survey is a better constructed instrument and there will be NO making excuses.

Jumper, I was going to blow the survey off but thought about it and decided to do it after all. My reasoning is this: ATF has slipped year after year in these surveys and Chait, Hoover, Melson, Carter, Ford, Carroll, Stinnett, Sullivan, Domenech and their crew have for years been able to explain it away or make excuses, even as we were in free fall. The timing of this is good because if the working agents vote as they should, I bet we will drop well below 50th or even 75th place, which would be some kind of record. This is the sort of slap in the face outsiders notice. It is like a vote of no confidence for the last few years. You are right - good things or bad things to say, if all you can do is talk smack in your cubes from the sidelines without taking action of some sort, then keep quiet. This is a good way (the survey) to make your voice heard. The time to act is now. Sorry for the rant - just one agent's opinion.

[Valkyrie]

TO ALL ATF AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES WHO VIEW AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS SITE!

You will find a message on your work computers from the US Office of Personnel Management titled the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

Take the survey!

Whether you agree or disagree with CleanUpATF. Whether you support ATF management or do not. Take the survey. Don't fluff it off. It takes all of 5 minutes to click through the questions. If you feel our management is doing a great job then say so, it is your right. If you feel that we are mismanaged, then say that.

Participate in change! Back the bosses or revolt but get involved!

Melson has stated in the past that the OPM surveys are not truely reflective of the agencies personnel because full participation had not been obtained. Take the survey! Participate! Give HQ an honest and accurate view of how you feel. Don't pull punches. Praise management or criticize them, this is your annonomous chance to be heard!

A recent comment I heard in Philadelphia is telling.

Comment: "These are the worst times ATF has ever seen."
Answer: "No. You are wrong. These are the best times because accountablity is finally on the way. This is what we have all wanted. A better ATF. Significant and meaningful changes are coming."

Jumper, I was going to blow the survey off but thought about it and decided to do it after all. My reasoning is this: ATF has slipped year after year in these surveys and Chait, Hoover, Melson, Carter, Ford, Carroll, Stinnett, Sullivan, Domenech and their crew have for years been able to explain it away or make excuses, even as we were in free fall. The timing of this is good because if the working agents vote as they should, I bet we will drop well below 50th or even 75th place, which would be some kind of record. This is the sort of slap in the face outsiders notice. It is like a vote of no confidence for the last few years. You are right - good things or bad things to say, if all you can do is talk smack in your cubes from the sidelines without taking action of some sort, then keep quiet. This is a good way (the survey) to make your voice heard. The time to act is now. Sorry for the rant - just one agent's opinion.

[Zorro]

Congressional report from 1982 posted by David Hardy - not flattering and contains shades of some familiar mannerisms: http://www.armsandth...earings_pdf.pdf

[Doc Holiday]

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. Melson,
With all due respect, please consider the age old definition of insanity, "Doing the sames things over and over but expecting different results". Isn't it time you listened to us? Isn't it time to slam on the breaks and change this Bureaus direction before its too late.It will be painful for all, but a little accountability goes a long way. Especially if most of the field is behind you. You have lost the respect and confidence of those you have authority over which means you have no authority. For the 30th time, there are over 4500 of us, stop listening to the 6 or 8 knuckleheads that have embarrassed you and the Bureau so greatly. Jay, and I and Dodson and Gil and Jaquez and Kay Kabicki didn't embarrass you, Loos, Ficarretta, McMahon Chait Hoover Martin Ford and so many others have.How can I state this with some confidence? Because I know ATF, I talk to ATF every day. I don't talk at them. Agents are turning on bosses, bosses are turning on bosses, bosses are turning on agents, but guess what? AGENTS WILL NEVER TURN ON AGENTS.
.

[VINCENT A CEFALU]

Mr. Melson,
With all due respect, please consider the age old definition of insanity, "Doing the sames things over and over but expecting different results". Isn't it time you listened to us? Isn't it time to slam on the breaks and change this Bureaus direction before its too late.It will be painful for all, but a little accountability goes a long way. Especially if most of the field is behind you. You have lost the respect and confidence of those you have authority over which means you have no authority. For the 30th time, there are over 4500 of us, stop listening to the 6 or 8 knuckleheads that have embarrassed you and the Bureau so greatly. Jay, and I and Dodson and Gil and Jaquez and Kay Kabicki didn't embarrass you, Loos, Ficarretta, McMahon Chait Hoover Martin Ford and so many others have.How can I state this with some confidence? Because I know ATF, I talk to ATF every day. I don't talk at them. Agents are turning on bosses, bosses are turning on bosses, bosses are turning on agents, but guess what? AGENTS WILL NEVER TURN ON AGENTS.
.

[GoodWorker]

Valid points. HOWEVER, when senior ATF officials are kept out of the loop intentionally and a simple 6(e) memo could have rectified that, Newell et al knew they were hiding the truth of what was going on. And NO 6(e) list in the world can justify Main Justice and ATF Director approving, allowing and now covering up the most dangerous practice in this Bureaus history.

Doc,
I absolutely agree with you but my reference was about ATF's managements refusal to appear before the congressional hearing and produce the requested documents. If the 6e rule does not apply in the Gunrunner Op, then ATF management has no valid justification for not appearing or producing. If ATF management is this disrespectful to members of congress, now the public has a slight understanding of how disrespectful they are with their own employees. I thank God everyday for the courageous ATF employees who started this site and those who stood up for what is right by talking to congress. ATF management has refused to produce documents for employees in various suits because the documents would prove all of the employees allegations and they would reveal criminal conduct.

[Ike]

Just in case some of you missed this one.... ATF declared a piece of piece of string as a "machine gun"!

To be fair, they did reverse the decision - 3 years later - except when the string is attached to the gun.

[Doc Holiday]

Just a symptom of the disease. No one was ever disciplined and the matter remains unresolved. The level of accountability within this agency on ALL matters be they enforcement, regulatory or legal is ZERO. Across the board oversight or a dismantling are now the ONLY options. The issues surrounding firearms, their regulation and the second amendment are that important to our nation and our governments credibility. Congress and DOJ have allowed the corruption and mismanagement to creep to far into our agency's culture.

Regarding ATF lies.... Some of you may not have seen this very interesting internal ATF document:



By ATF's own admission, NFA employees always testify that the NFRTR is 100% accurate when they know it's not.

[Doc Holiday]

Valid points. HOWEVER, when senior ATF officials are kept out of the loop intentionally and a simple 6(e) memo could have rectified that, Newell et al knew they were hiding the truth of what was going on. And NO 6(e) list in the world can justify Main Justice and ATF Director approving, allowing and now covering up the most dangerous practice in this Bureaus history.

Gents,

I thought ATF made arrests on this case so 6E should not apply since the defense has to have access to the evidence. Can anyone verify this?

[GoodWorker]

Dear Pioneer

Glad you're here and sorry you feel the way you do. However, please understand that the vast majority of field agents are honest, hard-working law enforcement personnel who perform their duties with the utmost of integrity. There is no other federal agency that has SA's who will drop everything at home when their local police call needing assistance on a search warrant scene, officer involved shooting or dealing with the illness or death of a family member or partner.

Further, you would be hard-pressed to find an 1811 in the outfit who agrees with the laws that Congress has written and further I doubt you will ever find one that has personally written or had any influence on a law currently on the books. As far as "GunRunner" and "Fast and Furious" are concerned - I've been around long enough to know that when a case is in legal proceedings and bound by 6e rules very little information is available to anyone outside that 6e list. Revealing that information would be illegal and unethical - and most agents are not willing to risk their integrity to answer questions they are not permitted to answer.

Corruption is not limited to this outfit, or Federal law enforcement - there are "bad apples" in every department - fed, state and local. It sickens me at any level. I believe in the 2nd Amendment - but most people that quote that 2nd Amendment would find it difficult to cite what the other Amendments state - proof that people only learn about what helps their cause.

ATF management leaves much to be desired, but they are no different than Chiefs of Police, Sheriff's and DPS Commissioners in at least 22-25 departments I am familiar with.

Gents,

I thought ATF made arrests on this case so 6E should not apply since the defense has to have access to the evidence. Can anyone verify this?

[vinnie]

Dear Pioneer

Glad you're here and sorry you feel the way you do. However, please understand that the vast majority of field agents are honest, hard-working law enforcement personnel who perform their duties with the utmost of integrity. There is no other federal agency that has SA's who will drop everything at home when their local police call needing assistance on a search warrant scene, officer involved shooting or dealing with the illness or death of a family member or partner.

Further, you would be hard-pressed to find an 1811 in the outfit who agrees with the laws that Congress has written and further I doubt you will ever find one that has personally written or had any influence on a law currently on the books. As far as "GunRunner" and "Fast and Furious" are concerned - I've been around long enough to know that when a case is in legal proceedings and bound by 6e rules very little information is available to anyone outside that 6e list. Revealing that information would be illegal and unethical - and most agents are not willing to risk their integrity to answer questions they are not permitted to answer.

Corruption is not limited to this outfit, or Federal law enforcement - there are "bad apples" in every department - fed, state and local. It sickens me at any level. I believe in the 2nd Amendment - but most people that quote that 2nd Amendment would find it difficult to cite what the other Amendments state - proof that people only learn about what helps their cause.

ATF management leaves much to be desired, but they are no different than Chiefs of Police, Sheriff's and DPS Commissioners in at least 22-25 departments I am familiar with.

"there are "bad apples" in every department"
And the bruised apples that they hide behind, that don't speak up. And the soft apples at the top that don't do anything about it, or encourage it. I am just one of those people on the street. I didn't swear any oaths to uphold the law, but I have been told I could be charged with a crime if I saw crimes being committed and didn't report them. Nice to see that "higher standard" you guys are held to working.

[Veritas]

SPARTACUS I commend you for your articulate commentary. Thank you!

[spartacus]

Dear Pioneer Glad you're here and sorry you feel the way you do. However, please understand that the vast majority of field agents are honest, hard-working law enforcement personnel who perform their duties with the utmost of integrity. There is no other federal agency that has SA's who will drop everything at home when their local police call needing assistance on a search warrant scene, officer involved shooting or dealing with the illness or death of a family member or partner. Further, you would be hard-pressed to find an 1811 in the outfit who agrees with the laws that Congress has written and further I doubt you will ever find one that has personally written or had any influence on a law currently on the books. As far as "GunRunner" and "Fast and Furious" are concerned - I've been around long enough to know that when a case is in legal proceedings and bound by 6e rules very little information is available to anyone outside that 6e list. Revealing that information would be illegal and unethical - and most agents are not willing to risk their integrity to answer questions they are not permitted to answer. Corruption is not limited to this outfit, or Federal law enforcement - there are "bad apples" in every department - fed, state and local. It sickens me at any level. I believe in the 2nd Amendment - but most people that quote that 2nd Amendment would find it difficult to cite what the other Amendments state - proof that people only learn about what helps their cause. ATF management leaves much to be desired, but they are no different than Chiefs of Police, Sheriff's and DPS Commissioners in at least 22-25 departments I am familiar with.

[spartacus]

I am gravely disappointed in what the BATF has become. I am a retired city police detective and honestly believe my career was 100% ethical and professional. Over the course of my 30 year career, I had occasion to work with federal officers, including BATF, on several types of investigations. Once upon a time, I considered federal agents as "brothers" who held to the same ethical standards as do me and my colleagues. I honestly believe that the vast majority of agents are honest, hard working patriots. The agency however, seems to have become riddled with a cancer that is eating away the fundamental foundation of the agency. The upper management, and in some cases middle management as well, have become corrupted by the powerful political influences of Washington DC. They have allowed political considerations to overcome their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

My disillusionment began with the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents. I was fortunate to be able to watch the congressional hearings into both incidents, and I was appalled at what I witnessed. At the beginning, I was for the agents and agency, considering them "brothers." I no longer have that naive belief. I witnessed perjury and falsification of evidence before my eyes, and came away from that experience saddened and disheartened. I witnessed behavior that shook the very foundations of my professional beliefs.

I am a life long gun owner, military and police firearms instructor, who was able to retire at the top of my game as a major crime detective. I took my oath of office seriously my entire life, and perhaps naively believed that everyone else does as well. The congretional hearings I witnessed prompted me to open my eyes to the political corruption that had infected a once honorable law enforcement agency. I became an advocate for our Second Amendment rights as a LIfe Member of the NRA and Second Amendment Foundation. I discovered CleanUpATF minutes ago and look forward to learning and helping in any way I can contribute.

After my retirement from active police work, I now work as a private contractor, providing executive protection to a high profile elected official in my area. My protectee is a card carrying, charter member of the anti-freedom, gun control culture. The reason I mention that is because from time to time, as I am now, I may visit this site on a city government owned computer.

This is my first posting and present this as an introduction. I firmly believe that BATF&E should be dismantled. I further believe that anyone, at any level, who participated in the outrageous behavior we are witnessing along our National border, should be called to account, tried and imprisoned. Legitimate federal crimes can be investigated by other federal agencies. Lord knows, there are plenty of them to go around.

[Pioneer]

I am gravely disappointed in what the BATF has become. I am a retired city police detective and honestly believe my career was 100% ethical and professional. Over the course of my 30 year career, I had occasion to work with federal officers, including BATF, on several types of investigations. Once upon a time, I considered federal agents as "brothers" who held to the same ethical standards as do me and my colleagues. I honestly believe that the vast majority of agents are honest, hard working patriots. The agency however, seems to have become riddled with a cancer that is eating away the fundamental foundation of the agency. The upper management, and in some cases middle management as well, have become corrupted by the powerful political influences of Washington DC. They have allowed political considerations to overcome their sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

My disillusionment began with the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents. I was fortunate to be able to watch the congressional hearings into both incidents, and I was appalled at what I witnessed. At the beginning, I was for the agents and agency, considering them "brothers." I no longer have that naive belief. I witnessed perjury and falsification of evidence before my eyes, and came away from that experience saddened and disheartened. I witnessed behavior that shook the very foundations of my professional beliefs.

I am a life long gun owner, military and police firearms instructor, who was able to retire at the top of my game as a major crime detective. I took my oath of office seriously my entire life, and perhaps naively believed that everyone else does as well. The congretional hearings I witnessed prompted me to open my eyes to the political corruption that had infected a once honorable law enforcement agency. I became an advocate for our Second Amendment rights as a LIfe Member of the NRA and Second Amendment Foundation. I discovered CleanUpATF minutes ago and look forward to learning and helping in any way I can contribute.

After my retirement from active police work, I now work as a private contractor, providing executive protection to a high profile elected official in my area. My protectee is a card carrying, charter member of the anti-freedom, gun control culture. The reason I mention that is because from time to time, as I am now, I may visit this site on a city government owned computer.

This is my first posting and present this as an introduction. I firmly believe that BATF&E should be dismantled. I further believe that anyone, at any level, who participated in the outrageous behavior we are witnessing along our National border, should be called to account, tried and imprisoned. Legitimate federal crimes can be investigated by other federal agencies. Lord knows, there are plenty of them to go around.

[Ike]

Regarding ATF lies.... Some of you may not have seen this very interesting internal ATF document:



By ATF's own admission, NFA employees always testify that the NFRTR is 100% accurate when they know it's not.

[huggybear1]

So when is ATF going to lift the ban on the hiring of white male agents? Including decorated military veterans? Is this legal? Did MLK say men should be judged on the color of their skin and not on the content of their character? Has ATF become so corrupt?

[Zorro]

All good points, Doc. Speaking of crying towels.... http://www.nraila.or...ad.aspx?id=6291 I guess a few people didn't like the idea of us operating outside the law without consent. Kind of refreshing.

[Doc Holiday]

Smoke and mirrors. Path of least resistence and NO focus. Don't just surge the border with no goal other than to surge the border. Emergency multiple sale reporting? Please!!!! Did any of you guys think of just asking? Set up a twitter or text or whatever so each field office gets REAL TIME reports of suspicious straw purchasers. Do we really want ALL 8500 FFL's to report EVERY multiple sale? Did you guys even ponder what it would take to process and follow up on that much disorganized data? Stop knee jerking and stop the Newells and Gillettes and Martins of this agency before there is NO AGENCY.

[Zorro]

You're singing my song apostate. What is so bad about just telling the truth?? No spin, no angles. Why manipulate data instead of just report it? Anyone remember the e-mails from a yr or 2 ago about how we didn't put enough hours on explosives to meet the bureaucratic model we sold to congress? Put more hours on explosives because we are 2% short on our predicition.... yes, Mr. and Mrs. taxpayer, you are financing someone to count hours down to the 1/10 of 1 percent and managers that actually want the numbers to match precisely (via data manipulation), regardless of what reality may dictate. (I do not recall the actual numbers just the sick feeling I got knowing that people were paid big money to come up with that). That bit of leadership probably cost the public tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars with no tangible benefit or even a legitimate purpose. Just another day.

[apostate]

All ATF agents want to be are honest, hard working, brave, selfless employees who protect the hard working tax paying American public. Drive by most ATT offices at night and there will always see agents working. ATF agents just want to put the worst of the worst violent and dangerous criminals in prison. ATF agents,at least most of them, always run to the sound of gunfire. That is what ATF does. ATF agents are on the front line of violent crime working with local law enforcement. That is the mission. This is not a job for an agent to hideout in an intell group for 2 years then promote to upper management. ATF agents despise dishonesty, corruption, favortism, cheating, discrimination, incompetence, ineptitude, sloth and fraud. Why oh why can't this once great agency just do its job and protect the American public

[Zorro]

Didn't a high level manager at FTB, initials S N, get caught taking firearms home? My Mom used to tell me as a child when you take things that do not belong to you it was called stealing and that is was a crime. She even cautioned me that the Po Po would come and arrest me for such behavior. I guess ATF has a different definition for managers because he still has his job and received no negative action for his behavior.

My mom, if she was still alive, would have an interesting take on this one.

If an agent stole at work what would happen to him?

Just curious...

I think you just scratched the surface on that one. Yes, still has a job and no loss in pay grade. Possibly got rewarded for the behavior. If I can get some solid info, I'll post a follow-up. If what I have been told is true, it won't be pretty.

[apostate]

Didn't a high level manager at FTB, initials S N, get caught taking firearms home? My Mom used to tell me as a child when you take things that do not belong to you it was called stealing and that is was a crime. She even cautioned me that the Po Po would come and arrest me for such behavior. I guess ATF has a different definition for managers because he still has his job and received no negative action for his behavior. My mom, if she was still alive, would have an interesting take on this one. If an agent stole at work what would happen to him? Just curious...

[Doc Holiday]

Look, McLemore was protected by Carter, Sullivan and Hoover after committing the cardinal sin for Federal agents; lying under oath, as confirmed by the OIG. Richardson became the Chair of the Professional Review Board after telling multiple lies to the OSC. Mr. Melson obviously feels that a senior U.S. Senator should quit digging around ATF and "mind his own business". Hoover is stepping 3 levels down in yet another shameful coverup of abuses. Our nominee is declining to weigh in on any of this. Orchowski and Torres should be terminated for official findings of retaliation. Ford lied directly to Congress. Gillette got caught twice for violating the Bureau's conduct regs relating to inappropriate relationships. Newell allowed an agent's house to be torched with his family inside and not one agent was allowed to respond. Martin and Gleysteen committed multiple acts of flat-out perjury, decimated the manpower in the SFFD, and paid large dollars for an outrageous act of reprisal Both were promoted rather than being fired and prosecuted, as required by ATF/DOJ regs and the law. Riehl failed at arson and explosives. We have managers arrested in N.O. for lewd conduct. ATF's Chief Counsel's Office has created and submitted false documents, lied under oath, and costs the Bureau millions in wasted dollars.

News Flash: They are all still in place, unscathed, without any consequences. And this list is far from all-inclusive and these acts of corruption and malfeasance have all occurred within just the last 3-4 yrs. That, people, is why this website exists and why we will continue to lobby for intensive Congressional oversight.

ATF should bring former ASAC Tommy Stankewitz back from forced retirement to give training on the professional ATF culture of managing female employees by teaching a course on harassment, stalking, power, abuse etc.

At least one female employee left ATF to get away from him. Showing up at a female employee's house after hours drunk and pounding on the door demanding to be let in? His stalking behavior was covered-up by Chait and later Potter. If this is not true why the big hush hush pay out to feamle employees under him and a quick secret forced retirement?Was he given a bonus too when he left as a reward? I know they tried to give him a cushy ATF contract job until his stalking behavior was exposed.

Maybe a certain SAC on the East coast can give a course on the correct place to park a tax payer funded g ride on the weekend when visiting a strip bar.

Maybe a SAC on the West coast can give a course on how to defraud the tax payers by filling-out falsified travel vouchers?

ATF management attempting to teach professionalism. It doesn't get any funnier than that!

[omegaphipsi]

Doc, you hit this one on the head too. Richardson is found to have answered questions from the OIG with less than candor (which means lying in government protectionist speak) and he is selected to provide the video lecture on the web based professionalism training! 1) who chose him? 2) how could he even accept? Seriously people, look at what a trainwreck ATF is. You cannot make this stuff up! There is such a double standard of accountability that no one here, agents and staff included, pay any mind to anything these guys do or say. ATF has become a mindless march toward a government retirement and that is all. How pathetic is that?

ATF should bring former ASAC Tommy Stankewitz back from forced retirement to give training on the professional ATF culture of managing female employees by teaching a course on harassment, stalking, power, abuse etc.

At least one female employee left ATF to get away from him. Showing up at a female employee's house after hours drunk and pounding on the door demanding to be let in? His stalking behavior was covered-up by Chait and later Potter. If this is not true why the big hush hush pay out to feamle employees under him and a quick secret forced retirement?Was he given a bonus too when he left as a reward? I know they tried to give him a cushy ATF contract job until his stalking behavior was exposed.

Maybe a certain SAC on the East coast can give a course on the correct place to park a tax payer funded g ride on the weekend when visiting a strip bar.

Maybe a SAC on the West coast can give a course on how to defraud the tax payers by filling-out falsified travel vouchers?

ATF management attempting to teach professionalism. It doesn't get any funnier than that!

[Doc Holiday]

Mr. Traver, you are NOT dodging this. You are the nominee. Mr. Melson and Mr. Hoover et al. in the two years you have had complete control of the agency, you have, Relinquished our explosive jurisdiction and ultimately that portion of our budget. ESF-13, total and abysmal failure. Employee disputes, whistleblower reprisals and EEOC complaints and failed Ombudsman interventions at an all time high. Top 20 to 41st in employee satisfaction. Project gunrunner and/or gunwalker FAILED with accompanying misleading press conferences and lies to Congress. The NRT and related arson and explosives programs a complete failure under Riehl, Martin and others. The question related to this, is HOW MANY DEPUTY DIRECTORS GET TO FAIL AT THE EXPENSE OF THE AGENCY, AND STILL MAINTAIN THEIR SES STATUS AND RETIREMENT PERKS FOR FAILING? WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS ALLOWED TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET AFTER DROPPING DOWN 3 LEVELS AFTER FAILING AND JUST STEP INTO THE WASHINGTON FIELD DIVISION OR ANY FIELD DIVISION WITHOUt ANY CONSEQUENCES. Can anyone provide a scenario where the FBI,DHS,Customs, Secret Service allow failure to be ignored or rewarded? How many of our Deputy Directors and ADFO's get to step down behind Waste Fraud and abuse and/or gross mismanagement before the Media or Congress demands accountability?

[Doc Holiday]

What our current leadership doesn't get and Andrew Traver BETTER get, is that professionalism starts at the top. And it starts with keeping your word to the field. Mr. Melson, where is the accountability for abusive bosses you promised? You promised you would openly solicit input from the field. You promised you would reign in the abuses of Chief counsels office. We still have the same Ombudsmans Office who has worked in concert with Chief counsel to undermine the fields concerns. You have left KNOWN abusive senior managers in place.You shifted them. Now look at our border initiative. You have failed to resolve disputes and continue to run this Bureau in a vacuum.

[apostate]

Seriously people? I had to recently take the professionalism training. Only to first hear Mr. Melsons directive to elevate personal professionalism. First and foremost, GET your exec staff to start acting in this manner. Secondly, a video of SAC Marvin Richardson(the only SAC I ever recall being called an inveterate liar, on paper by the OSC)(not counting the OIG calling SAC McLemore a liar) calling for ethics by field agents. By policy, Richardson should have been fired, NOT promoted. Mr. Melson and crew, your credibility and judgement are seriously suspect.

I noticed that too. I wanted to laugh but just shook my head in disgust. Do they think that agents are all that stupid?

[Doc Holiday]

Seriously people? I had to recently take the professionalism training. Only to first hear Mr. Melsons directive to elevate personal professionalism. First and foremost, GET your exec staff to start acting in this manner. Secondly, a video of SAC Marvin Richardson(the only SAC I ever recall being called an inveterate liar, on paper by the OSC)(not counting the OIG calling SAC McLemore a liar) calling for ethics by field agents. By policy, Richardson should have been fired, NOT promoted. Mr. Melson and crew, your credibility and judgement are seriously suspect.

[x1811]

Recently took the online mandatory ATF Professionalism training. I was so ashamed that at this point in my career ( 20 years) that we Special Agents have to take this remedial training. I learned that it is not good to lie under oath in court, to change my shirt if I spill a bottle of soy sauce before I appear in court, and to not "plant" evidence at a crime scene. Are you friggin kidding me? Does FBI, ICE, DEA or even the Girl Scouts have this mandatory type of training?

All during this remedial Sesame Street training I thought back on my career and the number of times my RAC, ASAC and SAC had violated the points in this training. From misusing and damaging the the GOV, using the GOV on vacations, lending the GOV to family members, making open racial slurs when addressing white agents, producing fraudulent travel vouchers, going AWOL from work for weeks at a time and not telling anyone, sexually harassing and stalking female agents, borrowing (stealing) firearms while working as a Supv at FTB, lending your service issued firearm to your girlfriend, "borrowing" A/C funds, banging your secretary at work, lying under oath ( How many in mgt are giglio?), terrorizing employees ( My ex ASAC used to brag openly that he like to supervise his employees by fear and intimidation and nothing made him happier than giving agents days-off with no pay) but I digress... I could go on and on but am laughing hysterically.

And did any of these in management receive any type of negative action for their "unprofessional" behavior? Hell no, they all received promotions.

Perhaps it is in relation to the article shown below:
------------------------------------------------------------
Cleveland ATF Agent Expected to Plead Guilty to Stealing Money During Drug Raid
By Allan Lengel - ticklethewire.com

A 32-year-old ATF agent is expected to plead guilty later this month in federal court to stuffing his pockets with cash during an Oct. 18 drug raid in suburban Cleveland, court records show. Agent Steven Campbell is scheduled to enter a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Cleveland to a federal theft charge on Dec. 22. According to a court affidavit by Nicholas Candela, a special agent with the Justice Department Inspector General, on Oct. 18, ATF agent Campbell was part of a task force that raided a home in Lyndhurt, Ohio shortly after 7 a.m.

[sadsack]

Recently took the online mandatory ATF Professionalism training. I was so ashamed that at this point in my career ( 20 years) that we Special Agents have to take this remedial training. I learned that it is not good to lie under oath in court, to change my shirt if I spill a bottle of soy sauce before I appear in court, and to not "plant" evidence at a crime scene. Are you friggin kidding me? Does FBI, ICE, DEA or even the Girl Scouts have this mandatory type of training? All during this remedial Sesame Street training I thought back on my career and the number of times my RAC, ASAC and SAC had violated the points in this training. From misusing and damaging the the GOV, using the GOV on vacations, lending the GOV to family members, making open racial slurs when addressing white agents, producing fraudulent travel vouchers, going AWOL from work for weeks at a time and not telling anyone, sexually harassing and stalking female agents, borrowing (stealing) firearms while working as a Supv at FTB, lending your service issued firearm to your girlfriend, "borrowing" A/C funds, banging your secretary at work, lying under oath ( How many in mgt are giglio?), terrorizing employees ( My ex ASAC used to brag openly that he like to supervise his employees by fear and intimidation and nothing made him happier than giving agents days-off with no pay) but I digress... I could go on and on but am laughing hysterically. And did any of these in management receive any type of negative action for their "unprofessional" behavior? Hell no, they all received promotions.