Crimes by air marshals raise questions about hiring

[DogPoundPup]

Source: USA Today

Since 9/11, more than three dozen federal air marshals have been charged with crimes, and hundreds more have been accused of misconduct, an investigation by ProPublica, a non-profit journalism organization, has found. Cases range from drunken driving and domestic violence to aiding a human-trafficking ring and trying to smuggle explosives from Afghanistan.

The Federal Air Marshal Service presents the image of an elite undercover force charged with making split-second decisions that could mean the difference between stopping a terrorist and shooting an innocent passenger.

But an examination of police reports, court records, government reports, memos and e-mails shows that 18 air marshals have been charged with felonies, including at least three who were hired despite prior criminal records or being fired from law enforcement jobs. A fourth air marshal was hired while under FBI investigation. Another stayed on the job despite alarming a flight attendant with his behavior.

This spring, after U.S. embassies, airlines and foreign police agencies complained about air marshal misconduct overseas, the agency director dispatched supervisors on international missions.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-11-12-air-marshals_N.htm

[babylonsister]

1. Wow. I used to work with FAMs. and that used to be an honorable

position. As with everything else in this admin, they've made it insupportable. That's really too bad. Maybe DHS needs to be split up. Again. Or rethunk. :think:

[spag68]

2. Air Marshals

Is there anything that this administration can't screw up?

[struggle4progress]

3. Hiring George's friends, it seems

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. Welcome to Step Three

3. Develop a thug caste

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/24/usa.comment


I have only one expectation of Barack Obama: Break the TSA into a billion pieces, rinse repeat.