adelgadoiis

Excellent article. I know ATF has plenty of people with extensive law enforcement, military, and international experience that can make significant cases like those described here with the proper support.

I'm not sure how many people are awarded the title "Honorary ATF Agent." Rep. Jim Lightfoot was, and he lists it as among his accomplishments.

Iceman tells it straight --- and I'll be a bit more specific, in one instance of which I have direct knowledge. The Congress was bent on withholding $10 million from ATF's budget. That might not sound like a lot of bucks in today's environment, but not getting it would have meant laying off ATF employees; a significant number of them.

Rep. Lightfoot stuck $10 million for ATF into an agricultural appropriations bill, and saved the jobs (if not careers) of however many ATF employees that $10 million would buy.

I believe Rep. Lightfoot wrote what he did about ATF out of concern for its survival, and because of his profound belief in the core ATF mission. As he points out, ATF has been without a permanent Director for some 6 years now. Not having a permanent Director is flat out irresponsible, especially for an agency with a mission like ATF's mission.

It is unclear whether the top executives at ATF, or their counterparts at the Department of Justice, realize the role Rep. Lightfoot played in supporting ATF and saving some untold numbers of jobs and careers. He was clearly moved by the instances of abuse at ATF that he cited; enough so to take the time to write the letter he wrote. His wise counsel is worth heeding.

Thanks goes out to Rep. Lightfoot for caring.

Had to add this. Just came off the presses with Jay talking to his alma mater before they play the #1 team in the country this week.

If you could stand in front of this year’s team and address them before the Oregon game, what advice would you give them regarding your experience against USC in 1981?
You have absolutely nothing to lose so just let it all out. Take risks. Be reckless. Play like wild men. You wanna be the champ? Then you gotta knock out the guy with the belt. So punch him in the head as hard as you can as many times as possible and live with what happens.

We are pulling for you. Especially hope you lay it on JT. Major malfunction there.

Go for the gusto. Good luck.

No, I got the point and appreciate aldegadoiss post and am in agreement with his position. I was striving for historical accuracy.

Thank you microscope. You got the point I was trying to make and I will go into the public access PACER account today and get the exact USC that he was charged with and the USC that he actually pled to so that no one else can change the focus or spirit of my post.

I took Mr. Melson at his word when he said that people should use their real names and come forward with their grievences. I have used my real name on this web site since it's start. I have been open, honest, and professional. On 29 Jun 10 I went to a mediation with ATF. We talked for about 8 hours and they said we might have a deal but we must get the blessing from HQ. The ATF legal crew waited over 30 days to ask the powers that be if we have a deal. The powers that be allegedly said no deal- we will go to a hearing. ATF sent Chris Pellettiere to take part in my mediation. Pellettiere was one of the ASACs in the Miami Field Division (MFD)while I was experiencing retaliation. I have alleged that I was retaliated against by Pellettiere for reporting my supervisor and another group supervisor. I then sent a professional e-mail to SAC Julie Torres to help me with these issues and I did not get a response from her. I did get a Letter of Caution from Pellettiere for "your insubordinate and disrespectful conduct on September 2, 2005." Why doesn't ATF produce my controversial e-mail to SAC Torres for Mr. Melson to see? What in my memo was insubordinate or disrespectful? Why would ATF send one of the people that I have alleged to have retaliated against me to a mediation where he is basically defending his own actions, with ATF HQ, that contributed to what I have alleged was a failure of leadership? ATF wants me to stop writing on this web site yet they did not keep their word in providing me a professional environment to work. ATF has had three opportunities to make things right in mediation since 2006 and each time they shut the door on my face. This is also happening while a Chicago Police Officer was shot this morning. He is going to be ok but three other Chicago officers have died since May. I would think that ATF would do more to help the police and citizens of Chicago instead of prevent a hard working former Chicago Police Officer and ex ATF Agent from using his knowledge and experience to fight crime in the City of Chicago. I could have put a lot of bad guys in prison in Chicago over the last 4.5 years that I have been excluded from ATF. If ATF allows its supervisory employees to lie against their own employees or former employees, what is going on with the real criminals on the street?