5 replies to this topic

[Thor God of Thunder]

My heart goes out to that supervisor. It is difficult to lose a loved one. Thank you for providing another perspective to that story. I would like to see ATF have the same consistent policy in all of these cases.

[SA FOG]

Some of us might do better to get the full story rather than parts and pieces on some of our comments. The supervisor working at home, hoping to be transferred to Boston, has some special circumstances. Not that it's any of our business, but her husband was a highly decorated and well thought of NY police detective. He responded to 9/11. He passed away last year from a incurable form of cancer, appartently contracted due to his rescue efforts. They have a daughter who is 4 years old. She'll probably not have many direct memories of her father when she gets older. She'll know what kind of man he was by the stories that people tell her. Her mother, a fine ATF agent, is still grieving the loss of her husband and her child's father. She has no familial support in the area she currently lives. If she goes back to Boston, she and her child, will have family support to help with the grieving process and to get on with their lives. As Paul Harvey used to say "and now for the rest of the story". You now have it. I don't mind ATF working with a grieving ATF special agent supervisor, who has always done a good job. Yeah, maybe all of us would like to work from home, but not all of us are dealing with her issues at this point in time. Enough said.

[Thor God of Thunder]

If congress ever needs testimony, please let me know. I would be glad to share my story!

[Doc Holiday]

I will not sit in judgment of the DIO or his actions. He will have to face his consequences like the rest of us. However, ATF cannot continue to cover up and protect this kind of conduct. DOJ, the media and Congress are watching. You would think they would have learned their lesson that the rules apply to everybody after Mclemore, Gordon, Domenich, Hoover, Horace and Krenshaw etc etc etc. STOP EMBARRASSING US.

[ATFemployee]

Here's one for you! Apparently, the DIO in Houston, who was arrested in New Orleans after authorities found that he had damaged the Residence Inn there by, among other things, removing his bedroom door and replacing it with a piece of plywood with a duct taped padded circular hole in it, is getting one of those "favors" from HQ. Information suggests that he is being transferred to a HQ job. Wow now that's punishment. Would a non-management person be afforded the same? Not! The paper work to begin dismissal would be completed before the ink had dried on the arrest report. Here is a situation that couldn't initially be covered up by ATF because actions were taken by an outside law enforcement agency-but ATF management is trying desperately to cover it up now and pay a favor to one its "club members". It is also rumored that the original felony arrest has been lowered to a misdemeanor-so.... ATF won't be forced to deal with it (a felony). What an embarrassment to the ATF family-no matter what your position. Yet if your in the "club" you have a whole group of individuals working on your behalf to "help you out".

[Patriot]

I have only recently begun reading the comments here and I have noticed a common theme articulated here that also seems to be the current climate in ATF. There are different rules for different people. All organizations have this problem, but not to the extent within ATF. The problem is magnified by the fact that most of the rule bending is done for managers and not those that conduct the day to day mission of the agency. Recently DD Melson spoke to an audience of ATF personnel and he emplored managers to "hold your subordinates accountable and help those that are failing, to improve" That was insulting in light of the fact that those guidelines are not adhered to at the upper management level. It pays to be in the "In Club" Many of the problems as well as the drain on resources can be aliviated by just simply applying the same rules across the board, no matter what job position is held or what grade level is held. The SLT can right itself and the agency by correcting the practice of handing out favors and jobs to those who are in the inner circle. Just two recent examples that raise questions. Where does the Newark FD Intel supervisor work, answer, her home in Massachusetts, apparently awaiting a vacancy in Boston for which the common thought is, the job will be hers. Not a knck on this person, just not fair, again different rules for different people. Where does a recent HQ detailee work, his home in Massachusetts. Working from home may be efficient and cost effective, but is it available to everyone, answer, no. Who would not like to work from home, why is it available to some but not all?. DD Melson and AD Hoover you can fix this easily. I seem to remember the current administration touting transparency in Government. Not happening at ATF.