Fatherland security

**uscitizen** · 12-05-2006, 12:25 PM

Smuggling, theft, bribery at agency
Homeland Security staff misconduct is outlined in a report, along with fraud by the public.
By Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writer
December 5, 2006

WASHINGTON — Aside from patrolling the nation's borders and guarding against terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security also is battling fraud, theft, bribery, smuggling and other crimes by American citizens — with some of the most disturbing examples coming from the sprawling agency's own employees.

A semiannual report filed to Congress by the department's inspector general showed a sharp jump in arrests in the six months ended Sept. 30, with many stemming from schemes by members of the public to bilk the agency of emergency relief funds in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

But the report, released this week, also highlights a litany of staff misconduct: immigration officials demanding sex in exchange for visas, airport screeners stealing money from tourists' luggage, federal air marshals smuggling drugs, and employees from various DHS agencies committing sex crimes — including indecent exposure and distributing child pornography.

The array of staff transgressions tucked into the report reflects the continued growing pains of an agency that was formed only three years ago, and the pressures created as parts of the department have rapidly expanded, critics say.

Clark Kent Ervin, a former DHS inspector general, said the Transportation Security Administration rushed to hire screeners and air marshals in 2003 without running background checks on the applicants.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

**Battleborne** · 12-05-2006, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by uscitizen

Smuggling, theft, bribery at agency
Homeland Security staff misconduct is outlined in a report, along with fraud by the public.
By Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writer
December 5, 2006

WASHINGTON — Aside from patrolling the nation's borders and guarding against terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security also is battling fraud, theft, bribery, smuggling and other crimes by American citizens — with some of the most disturbing examples coming from the sprawling agency's own employees.

A semiannual report filed to Congress by the department's inspector general showed a sharp jump in arrests in the six months ended Sept. 30, with many stemming from schemes by members of the public to bilk the agency of emergency relief funds in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

But the report, released this week, also highlights a litany of staff misconduct: immigration officials demanding sex in exchange for visas, airport screeners stealing money from tourists' luggage, federal air marshals smuggling drugs, and employees from various DHS agencies committing sex crimes — including indecent exposure and distributing child pornography.

The array of staff transgressions tucked into the report reflects the continued growing pains of an agency that was formed only three years ago, and the pressures created as parts of the department have rapidly expanded, critics say.

Clark Kent Ervin, a former DHS inspector general, said the Transportation Security Administration rushed to hire screeners and air marshals in 2003 without running background checks on the applicants.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...home-headlines

This is one of the reasons I took a early retirement back in 1986...They were talking about forming the Dept of Homeland security under another name back then...I argued this was a bad idea...as agencies should remain separated to insure checks and balances! The Air Marshals were called Sky Marshals when I entered Federal service...they were disbanned and we all went to the Borders as Customs Patrol Officers...The New program recruits College Grads with a minimum of a 3.5 gpa...the old Marshals had to have a minimum of two years of college with 4years of law enforcement experience...much better....less chance of failing background checks!