When groupthink is present, big ideas get pushed down, shunned, or worst never shared with the group in the first place. Although not identified as such, Randall and Hayward proved to be members of a militia group based in Alabama that sought to discredit the ATF. In 1990, the investigation determined that racist signs, including the sign shown in the Hayward video, were posted on a tree in the campground for parts of one day. In any event, no one was punished for posting them. It seems, in my experience, the higher the custody level of the institution, the stronger the system. None of the allegations of criminal conduct were substantiated, although activity inappropriate for a gathering with a substantial number of law enforcement officers took place. OIG investigated each of these claims as well, most of which were initially contained in affidavits of two women submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee in July. Findings Regarding Specific Racist Misconduct When several months later OIG requested that he submit to an interview on a range of topics including his supposed discovery of a "nigger hunting license" at the 1995 Roundup or the militia plan "Operation Achilles Heel," whose stated goal was to discredit ATF, Randall refused and renewed these threats in more graphic terms. In addition, a former ATF agent in an interview subsequent to his Senate hearing testimony alleged for the first time that in 1987 he heard from another ATF agent that a woman had been raped by an ATF agent at the Roundup. The next day Rightmyer told the offenders that blacks were welcome at the Roundup and if they did not like it, they should leave. We discovered, however, a huge gap between these policies, on the one hand, and actual attendance at and perceptions about the event, on the other. In a fear-based culture, people consciously and unconsciously avoid risk and being risk adverse costs the organization limited opportunities for innovation as well as an overall environment where new ideas are rejected (Catmull, 2014). He refused to comply with any aspect of this subpoena. It also makes us highly skeptical of anyone new coming in. Thirty-six were DOJ employees when they attended; eight went prior to becoming DOJ employees. 1980-95, we conclude that the Roundup was not, as it was portrayed in the media stories, a "Klan rally," an intentionally "whites-only" racist gathering, or a haven for criminal conduct. Apparently, the same concern and solicitude did not extend to the relatively few female law enforcement personnel who went to a Roundup. During this sixteen-year period, more than 1,000 people participated in the Roundup, including an estimated 500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials. We are not aware of any effort that was made to establish who posted the signs. An old boy network (also known as old boys' network, ol' boys' club, old boys' club, old boys' society, good ol' boys club, or good ol' boys system) is an informal system in which wealthy men with similar social or educational background help each other in business or personal matters. When the organizers learned about it, they covered over the graffiti. Although Hayward alleged that the tape also contained a racist "comedy" routine and was for sale at the campground, we found no corroboration for these additional claims. They also bring this up in the report, the club the good old boys club. . We found no evidence, and indeed received no allegations, that any current or former DOJ employee directly engaged in racist or other misconduct -- other than one inappropriate comment by an FBI agent. Another local resident professed to have actually seen the rape during the 1988 or 1989 Roundup. B. Despite reports that prostitutes were present during various Roundups, we found no evidence that anyone was solicited for prostitution or that sex was exchanged for money. These standards apply to employees' off-duty conduct in addition to their conduct on the job. Other isolated but nevertheless significant evidence of racially offensive or insensitive conduct occurred in a number of years. The authors suggest four opportunities to dig an organization out of an insular environment. When someone is granted a position because of connections rather than because he or she has the best credentials and experience, the service that person renders to the public may be inferior. There is a popular old tale by Hans Christian Andersen (n.d.) of the emperors new clothes, where an emperor pays a significant amount of money for some magic clothes, which can only be seen by those who are wise. The term originally referred to social and business connections among former pupils of male-only elite . Insular is a road to not knowing what you should already know, and as a result not allowing your organization to fulfill its highest potential. A second sign, this one reading, "nigger checkpoint," was reported to have been posted across from the registration area early on the morning the Roundup began. In the Redneck of the Year skit, "a dog was traded for a man in blackface who then pretended to perform oral sex on a person in mock Ku Klux Klan garments." We hope that our effort to deal fully and carefully with disturbing allegations against officers responsible for enforcing our federal criminal laws will promote the fair administration of justice and the public's confidence in the ability of the Department of Justice to police itself. After these events, Satterthwaite filed a PSU complaint. It is the 21st century. Second, although our primary task was to assess the allegations of racism as they reflected on DOJ employees, we learned that the Roundup in fact had been marred by a number of serious and disturbing incidents of racial and other kinds of misconduct. He eventually parked his car off to the side, removed the offensive clothing, and was permitted to enter. Beshear confirms 3 dead after severe weather makes its way through Kentuckiana, LG&E: 'Significant' power outages with no restoration time given, A councilwoman's 'road map' to equity in Louisville, 'We have another study that tells us what we already know' | Black Louisvillians react to LMPD review, 'Breonna's home state continues to fail her' | Louisville groups raise concerns over changes to bill that would limit no-knock warrants, 'To lose my son in the same community I grew up in, it's tough.' None of the allegations of criminal conduct were substantiated, although activity inappropriate for a gathering with a substantial number of law enforcement officers took place. Hayward had previously attended several Roundups as a registered attendee, until he was banned for his own racially offensive conduct. We also found no evidence that any DOJ employees attended the Roundup without taking appropriate leave. They dont get in trouble with command, but theyre not the most people-friendly person youve met. All rights reserved. An investigation by the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) ensued. Based on our interviews of each of these witnesses, our conclusions regarding their credibility, and all the testimony of a number of credible witnesses, we concluded that none of these allegations were supported by substantial credible evidence. He refused to comply with any aspect of this subpoena. #3. Furthermore, the failure of the Roundup organizers to take any action regarding conduct that was less blatant, but still offensive to many, created a racially hostile environment such that blacks who attended would not have felt welcome. Our initial task was to identify DOJ employees who attended any of the Roundups. Even where we developed substantial evidence that acts of misconduct took place, we have not in every case been able to identify who was responsible, despite determined efforts to do so. No DOJ employee ever won Redneck of the Year, Ugliest Good O' Boy, Liar's Contest, or Beer Enduro competitions. Above all, be vigilant that the good old boys do not inhabit your workplace. We found no information as to who was responsible for this sign. Finally, a full investigation of the Roundup was necessary because these allegations had a large potential impact on the administration of the federal criminal justice system and the character and reputation of federal law enforcement officers In response to a request of the Deputy Attorney General, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether any Department of Justice (DOJ) employees had attended the Roundup and, if so, whether they engaged in or approved of racial, criminal, or other kinds of misconduct at any of the sixteen Roundups from 1980 through 1995. Most people define the Good Ole Boy System as "people who use or gain special treatment with job assignments and promotions because of the relationship they have with others.". It must take into account the known facts of the egregious behavior, what the employee saw and did, and how the misconduct was handled by the event's organizers. In 1992 and 1993, Richard Hayward brought to the Roundup David Duke for President campaign literature and souvenirs, and materials publicizing the National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP), a pro-Duke organization whose Michigan chapter Hayward had founded. a) Racist signs If true and if committed by DOJ law enforcement officers, we would be confronted with very serious questions about the officers' fitness to serve, their ability to discharge their law enforcement duties, and their right to wear a federal badge. 4) provide further training on the role of federal law enforcement officers in our society and the reasons why it is critical for law enforcement personnel to be held to extremely exacting standards of conduct to earn and maintain the full confidence of all citizens. These signs read, "Nigger check point," "Any niggers in that car?," and "17 lb." Arrests Are Plummeting. Hayward and his attorney terminated the interview shortly after the questioning turned to Hayward's own white supremacist views and activities. Although Hayward alleged that the tape also contained a racist "comedy" routine and was for sale at the campground, we found no corroboration for these additional claims. Others may restrict the hiring of relatives or friends in more general conflict-of-interest rules. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/bellis.NTCOFSP/Downloads/0679.pdf, Rand, S. (n.d.). In addition to charges of racism, allegations of criminal or other misconduct were also raised. D. Findings Regarding Other Misconduct No DOJ employee ever served on the "REX" (Roundup Executive Committee), the group responsible for setting Roundup policies. Rightmyer also announced generally that everyone in law enforcement was welcome at the Roundup, and those who disagreed should leave. This creates a multitude of problems. Thats just a fact of life. The other unimpressively slides through work but goes fishing with the commander on weekends. No DOJ employee ever served on the "REX" (Roundup Executive Committee), the group responsible for setting Roundup policies. We also conclude that by the time racist conduct began to appear at the Roundup and persons began to attribute racist tendencies to it, the Roundup organizers should have been aware that the name itself may have sent a less-than-welcoming message to all potential attendees. All told, our investigation took into account the statements of nearly 900 witnesses, including 560 who attended a Roundup. We found no evidence that anyone complained about such displays or that any action was taken to remove them. These leaders would vehemently agree that their peers and superiors who exhibit obvious favoritism are in the wrong and are, frankly, undeserving of their position. The other women who were baring their breasts were consensual sex partners for single and married agents. I, personally, served under them and would gladly fall on a sword if they asked even all these years later. identifies important training information, interacts with each other and Unfortunately, not asking clarifying questions is a significant issue facing many police organizations complicating opportunities for the management team to do its best work. First, performance needs to be a centerpiece of promotability factors. Officers from Cobb County, Georgia, brought a similar shirt. In the words of basketball coaching legend John Wooden, when everybody thinks alike, nobody thinks. There are countless leaders in history such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt who used the value of challenging their own modes of thinking; whether through a team who had diverse views, or reaching out to others for advice, or seeing how the value of people who think differently than you builds success. As favoritism is the broadest of these related terms, we'll start with its definition. Poor decisions are made, costing the organization credibility and destroying public confidence. If they do pretend it doesnt exist, troops will catch on and word will spread quickly through the ranks. In practice, these should give an accurate and fair assessment of a unit. In 1989 and other unspecified years we found evidence that cassette tapes of music by a performer named David Allen Coe were played at various campsites, including a song named "My Wife Ran Off With a Nigger." In media interviews, Randall and Hayward stated that they went to the site of the 1995 Roundup with the intention of finding racist conduct to report. In reality, the clothes do not exist, and although swindled, the emperor himself does not admit he cannot see them, because he doesnt want to be seen as unwise. These signs read, "Nigger check point," "Any niggers in that car?," and "17 lb." The department was one of nine law enforcement agencies in Michigan to receive such an award in the latest grant cycle. In a number of years, but certainly in 1990 and 1992, Confederate flags were displayed at various locations in and around the Roundup campground. One of the Senate affiants alleged that during the 1990 Roundup a "drug enforcement officer" offered her some unspecified drugs in Grumpy's, a bar adjacent to the campground that was frequented by many Roundup attendees. In 1992, he left a pile of these materials at the registration desk, which the people at the desk promptly discarded. The public drunkenness began far earlier and was a reason cited by many DOJ employees and others for not returning to the Roundup. We also found that an atmosphere hostile to minorities -- and to women -- developed over time because inadequate action was taken by the Roundup organizers to appropriately deal with instances of racial or other kinds of misconduct.". Maintain a fair and consistent workplace; employees who feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully are less likely to complain or sue. This woman denied that she was raped. Maintaining a healthy skepticism of your own thoughts and ideas leads to a growth mindset. The Roundup was also attended by white supremacists like Richard Hayward and Jeffrey Randall, who were members of a militia group based in Alabama. The Orange County Sheriffs Office has problems like everywhere else, but at least Sheriff Kevin Beary supports his troops. Ultimately, the purported eyewitness recanted his claim. Moreover, we found Randall's claim to have found the "license" in a Roundup bathroom not to be credible. He eventually evened out at FCC, a level 3/4 facility. In addition to Roundup participants, OIG made significant efforts to interview the persons who alleged misconduct against the Roundup and its participants. In 1990 and 1992, the same years as these signs appeared, and near where they were posted, persons whom we could not identify were checking to determine if any blacks were in any of the cars driving through the campground. In media interviews, Randall and Hayward stated that they went to the site of the 1995 Roundup with the intention of finding racist conduct to report. Further, many conscientious lawmakers have discovered that they must change their patterns of socializing when their work involves many decisions affecting friends and associates. The Roundups started in a rural part of Tennessee approximately four years after the April 29, 1976 Report on COINTELPRO, which was authored by Senators Frank Church (D-Idaho) and John Tower (R-Texas), was issued and published in the Congressional Record. When the organizers of the Roundup learned about the signs, they ordered the signs taken down. In 1992, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, police officer competing in the Redneck of the Year contest performed a skit where he claimed to have found a watermelon which had fallen off the back of a passing truck, struck it until it broke open, and then pulled out a doll he had painted black. Reasonable people will differ about the appointment of friends and family in high-level positions, but public officials should be aware that such choices can give the appearance of unfairness. The group is given inside information and preferential treatment, ultimately leading to a pyramid scheme of corruption and incompetence. (Government Executive Magazine, "Playing Favorites," by Brian Friel, October 2004). Greater punishment could be warranted, therefore, if the behavior evidenced in this investigation is part of a pattern of documented racial insensitivity. There are several standard U.S. Air Force uniforms, just like other DoD branches. If theres hardly any women in leadership, youre given the perception that there is discrimination practices going on., THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. T-shirts were sold at the Roundup that were found to be racially insensitive. Furthermore, because of their duty to fairly investigate and prosecute violations of the law, DOJ law enforcement officers are held to even stricter application of these standards of conduct. This woman denied that she was raped. We determined that what began in 1980 as an unofficial gathering of 58 law enforcement officers and their friends evolved over the years into an event that by the early 1990s attracted close to 500 people, only ten percent of whom had any federal law enforcement affiliation. As long as theres still a working relationship, rivalries between units are fine. -- a particular responsibility of the Department of Justice. Trying to play by the rules under that leader is impossible. We not only had to deal with weak recollections due to the passage of time but also faulty or incomplete memories because so many participants had consumed so much alcohol during the Roundup. (Subsequently, the FBI concluded that Hayward's video taken at the 1990 Roundup was authentic and had not been altered.) We encountered numerous witnesses who were unable to supply very much information, particularly those who attended a Roundup in its earliest years. We found evidence of the unofficial sale of T-shirts during several Roundups that some persons found to be racially insensitive. Although Rightmyer again criticized the officer who performed this skit, he took no other action. A so called "merit-based" promotion policy or system is nothing but another way to make it sound like management is promoting based on merit, when they're actually just putting up a smokescreen to disguise their need to circumvent civil service rules to put their boys into positions they're too . Because of the lack of controls placed on the distribution of fliers once they reached particular offices, the extent to which they were brought to the attention of the agents in these offices varied. Mired in tradition, the 'good ol' boys club' mentality keeps us moving backward and prevents us from being respected for the job we do. Many of the central figures involved in staging the Roundup over the years were also interviewed. For example, in Birmingham, Alabama, two closeted individuals closely associated with the Skinhead movement are firmly entrenched in the U.S. Attorney's Office. Accordingly, we recommend that the Department of Justice do the following: Roundup's Racism in the Law enforcement Community Never Died. Although our investigation established that the Roundup was nothing like a "Klan rally," the fact that specific acts of racist misconduct occurred in three different years made more difficult our assessment of the general charge that the Roundup had a "whites-only" attendance policy. There are even those that will incite a situation in order to see how the new person responds. Charles Morgan started his career as a corrections officer at MECC, a level 3 facility, and then transferred to ERDCC, a level 5 facility. When several months later OIG requested that he submit to an interview on a range of topics including his supposed discovery of a "nigger hunting license" at the 1995 Roundup or the militia plan "Operation Achilles Heel," whose stated goal was to discredit ATF, Randall refused and renewed these threats in more graphic terms. In 1992 the same persons who ordered the sign taken down pulled the responsible person away from the car and told him to stop what he was doing. The display of the Confederate flag is a controversial matter. (2014). This fact contributed substantially to the degeneration of the Roundup over the years from an innocuous open-air camping and recreational gathering into a playground for large numbers of the drunk, tasteless, and immature. Nevertheless, we found that, regardless of intent, some minority agents perceived a message that they would not be welcome or considered a "good o' boy," and that indeed they might face racial intolerance and hostility if they attended. We found no evidence that any federal law enforcement personnel appears in the photograph. Nor, as the initial news accounts suggested, was the Roundup dominated by federal law enforcement personnel. Several women in law enforcement who attended the Roundup reported feeling uncomfortable due to the vulgarity and demeanor of the male attendees. Based on our interviews of each of these witnesses, our conclusions regarding their credibility, and all the testimony of a number of credible witnesses, we concluded that none of these allegations were supported by substantial credible evidence. 9. During the 16-year run of the Roundups, no FBI, DEA, or ATF agent, or other DOJ official reported this ingrained, flagrant, and sustained display of racism and sexism to the OIG or the U.S. Attorney General. Although not raised initially as allegations, OIG found substantial credible evidence of rampant alcohol abuse and extreme cases of juvenile and shocking behavior. Connections and concessions are made at power lunches, at the sports bar, at the country club, or on the golf course. In 1991, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. brought to the Roundup shirts that depicted three police officers around a police car and two persons being held face down on the hood of the car. These individuals no longer use the term "nigger" in racially mixed company, but they freely use this derogatory term while relaxing and socializing in intimate settings with all-white friends and family members. OIG identified forty-four past or present DOJ employees who attended at least one Roundup. TVs Krystal Ball on Rising.. Once Hayward and Randall's allegations were made public, one former and several current black ATF agents made allegations that the Roundup was a "whites-only" event and that no black agents had ever been invited to attend. "You know, you're the person that plays golf with the commander of the unit, so when you go apply you're going to get that spot.". The person who observed the sign reported that it was gone within half an hour. In 1992, he left a pile of these materials at the registration desk, which the people at the desk promptly discarded. We found no evidence that any racial restrictions, either explicit or implicit, were placed on the distribution of these invitations. Near these signs, and also visible in the video, was a drawing of a likeness of an African American with a circle around it and a red slash across the circle.
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