Sounds like another case of “It’s not who you know, but who you blow.”

samurai on June 16, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Former ICE New Orleans Deputy SAC, Kyle “Bully” Barnette can post the name, photograph and details about a Dallas ICE agent’s group assignment and employment history on the Internet. But the ICE PIO can’t confirm or deny the employment status of an another agent in the same office? Truth like ICE, is stranger than fiction. Perhaps “Blackberry” Barnette will stop double dipping at his make believe “Tactical Intelligence Center”, job in Bay St. Louis, long enough, to comment here on the DS blog? It appears that “Narcosphere News” is very familiar with “Bull Chit” Barnette.
http://tinyurl.com/6o2uex

ParaLyzer on June 16, 2008 at 11:26 pm

I once again feel drawn back again to post on this blog.
In terms of SA Sedgebeer, I do not know the agent personally. I can only speak to the fact that she has not been found guilty of any action. In law enforcement, accusations are made against officers at all levels every day. I have been involved in three federal trials in my short 5 year career. In each of those trials, I have been accused of lying and intimidating the suspect. Did it happen? NO, but the accusation was made. Until a determination has been made as to the actual events surrounding the alleged incident, stop defaming this agent. If ICE and the local PD have not brought this agent to trial, then maybe there is a reason. Once again, I do not know what occurred that night. However, you do not know the details either Ms. Schlussel. It is one thing to sling mud at the management of this agency, it is another to attack an agent accused of an act that has yet to be proven.
I am amused that the attacks on retired DSAC Barnette continue. He has left the agency and is no longer a “threat” to anyone. For those who are upset over the former DSAC’s commute, you need to get over it. There is no rule or law in place on commute distance, it is controlled by the SAC much like LEAP. In addition, the former DSAC was accused of many things. The key word here is ìaccusedî not proven. I have never worked directly with former DSAC Barnette, but he was in my chain of command and never did me wrong. I am one of the lucky agents who has been able to work several hundred miles away in a RAC and is rarely bothered by the bosses.
The former DSAC served the service well and has retired. We have all committed some small indiscretions while at work, I am sure former DSAC Barnette did as well. Maybe we bought a lottery ticket at the gas station while fueling up the G-ride, checked out the Saints highlights (yes there are highlights) online from the office, or maybe we took the long way home to kill some extra LEAP hours. It happens and it always will because of pure human nature.
We, as an agency, need to focus on the main issues not trivial personnel problems. I have said it before and will hold to it. I have been blessed with a wonderful job that pays me a ridiculous some of money. I work the cases that I want to and I am bothered very little by management. The majority of SAs make well over 100k per year and carry a very small case load.
Our problem is that we are losing focus. We are obsessed with people like Director Forman and AS Myers who will soon be gone and a new bunch will come in. SACs, DSACs, and ASACs will always be promoted based upon reasons above my level. The SAs are what make the agency tick. It is our cases and hard work that make things happen. HQ will always stick it’s nose in where it does not belong, but that happens in the private sector as well.
Lets focus on Narcotics, Child Exploitation, Export violations, and Worksite. Stop bitching about the work and just do it. ICE is an agency with a chain of command and marching orders. If you want to whine and complain about the work than you should leave and go to another agency. There are plenty of 1811 spots open. All of us need to remember that we agreed to work for an agency that dictates the work we do. I work Child Exploitation almost exclusively, but my supervisor can stick their head in my office and say, “your being moved to fraud on Monday”. Guess what…..I’m working fraud on Monday.
I remain
2tired

2tired on June 17, 2008 at 11:10 am

2tired
What you wrote was indeed profound. It makes a lot of sense. But, in the last paragraph, “all of us need to remember that we agreed to work for an agency that dictates the work we do.” That is the part I disagree with. I went from working Customs cases to processing illegal alien gardners. I never agreed to do that. I never agreed to use Enforce. You must be one of the fortunate ones whose RAC has held on to the Customs legacy and whose agents didn’t have alien processing shoved down their throats. But rather than be any bigger of a malcontent, I left and went to another agency. And, not one of the legacy Customs agents I know enjoys procesing aliens.

freefromice on June 17, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Au, contraire, mon freefromice. I am a legacy Customs SA who LOVES processing aliens. Something about that musky-haven’t-showered-but-with-dirt-campfire-smell that they all emit that reminds me of my days back in the Patrol, chasing tonks, catchin’ ’em. cleaning
em up with paperwork for 5-6 hours only to see them NTA’ed and walking down Beyer avenue in San Diego before I could get my sup to check my paperwork. GOtta go…my unicorn is running away!

CapitalistPig on June 17, 2008 at 9:42 pm

Too funny man!

freefromice on June 17, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Freefromice:
Yes, I am one of the lucky SAs who is in a completely legacy Customs RAC, but we all have had to do our share of INS work. The legacy Customs RACs are the worst hit by the INS work since we have no INS SAs, limited staff, and no INS training. I do not enjoy alien processing, but I also did not enjoy doing customs broker checks, cruise ship inspections, or sugar import violations. I agree that there is nothing rewarding about spending several hours processing and alien for NTA, but I have taken little pleasure in working a duty fraud investigation where the subject has misclassified toys in order to save a few cents. However, I do it. We in ICE serve at the pleasure of the executive branch which means that those cats dictate or duties.
I would like nothing more than to stay in my highly specific area of investigation, and I have made many career decisions to ensure that I can keep doing what I am good at. My field of expertise is rewarding enough to allow me to go home at the end of the day happy (even if an occasional alien is thrown in the mix). I have been plagued with poor management who could not figure their way through an incident report to save their lives or understand half of what I put in an ROIs, but I have made the best of it even if that has meant leaving one ICE office for greener pastures in another ICE office.
I am sorry that you left as things will eventually get better, but we all must do what is best for each of us.
As always,
2tired

2tired on June 17, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Yes, 2tired, ICE is an agency with a chain of command. Too bad it’s a chain of command that refuses to listen to its agents, who make up the links in that chain, to find out where they would like to work. It may not be in their legacy assignment, after all. Could be that some L Customs agents would like to work gangs. Or L INS agents would like to work Sea Port INV or Commercial Fraud. But management will never know because they never take the time to solicit input from their agents.
As far as the indiscretions you listed, those are not indiscretions. You ARE allowed to buy a Lotto ticket while gassing up the GOV. You are allowed to access the ‘Net while at work, within reason and no porn. I don’t know that DSAC, but I’m sure the other posters referred to worse indiscretions than that.
As far as the current topic, it does not take proof beyond a reasonable doubt to discipline someone in an admin case. All it takes is preponderance of the evidence. If the evidence weighs more heavily that she did what’s alleged, then she should be fired. If she is not, then the onus is on ICE OPR and DHS OIG in that area.
And if YOU have been involved in 3 federal trials in only 5 years, regardless if the incidents resulted in trials or were dismissed, then dude, you need to evaluate how you do your job. I know of dozens of agents who have been around for twice that long and have never had their actions result in charges.
I love my job, hate the BS and the vindictiveness that some in management show. I’ll happily work until mandatory though.

sanantonioins on June 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm

This blog is like a bug light some times:
1) I have been a SA for 5 years and prior to that I was a TFO with customs for 5. Federal cases rarely go to trial. Most plead out. It has always been a common tactic by defense attorneys to claim that the gov’t has lied or tricked the defendant
2) last time I looked, gambling while on duty was forbidden and buying a lottery ticket is gambling plain and simple. Is it the same as playing on the slots, no, but it is gambling.
3) the DHS rules of behavior clearly state that the internet and email may not be used for personel use.
4) I am sure that OPR has investigated this matter. If she is back at work then there is a reason.
5) Most people love this job and hate all the BS. Its the G! No matter what agency, there will always be BS.

2tired on June 18, 2008 at 8:19 am

“This Officer Possesses Integrity And Is Worthy Of Trust And Confidence” was BS when it was first introduced on the SA credentials during the brief stewardship of George Weise (at least I think it was during his time – but being an old retired fart with CRS – I’m not too sure). But anyway – that phrase was put on the creds and was totally unnecessary. Doesn’t it make sense that if someone serves in the position – it should automatically be assumed that they have those attributes?
As for 2tired’s comment that “things will eventually get better” – well old buddy I have some news for you. Way back in the 70’s when DEA was formed and Customs lost it all – I was told by my old supervisor SSA Pete Piper – “Things will get worse before they get better”. What he said was true. Folks were saying back then – “they’ll see their mistake and DEA will be gone – well DEA has been around how many years now – 33? The same is gonna be true of Homeland Security – once they make a decision, even if it’s a mistake they’ll never admit it. Homeland Security is here to stay as is ICE and CBP. I can even envision CBP getting their own investigative authority for fraud. It’s all about empires.
I spent 30 years in Customs – there were good times and bad times, I was lucky enough to have retired before you all got put into that big pot they call Homeland Security – but just ponder on this………..Those of you that are unhappy – find another agency – the one you are in ain’t gonna change, and for the foreseeable future Immigration is what its all about.
Every year – the Sunday Magazine “Parade” has a section on who makes the most in America. A journeyman agent makes over $100K a year – now admit it – that ain’t too bad for a job that comes with a G-Car, paid gas, no clocking in, and all the other bennies you get.

exfed on June 18, 2008 at 11:25 am

2tired
In response to your post. Again I agree with a lot of what you said. Yopu seem to be an astute agent! Like you said, there were a lot of things about being a Customs SA that were at best mundane. But, I guess it’s because the end product justified the means, at least to me. Watching true bad guys go to jail after the success of investigations “spider-webbing” and growing into “OCDETF’s” “T3’s” etc was extremely gratifying! Even after boarding ships, and helping sort t-shirts and other crap, once FP&F fined those companies that was gratifying to me as well. I know we could split hairs about this for years. I am going to paste a blog I mad back in May (rather than re-type it again)that applies to this current situation. Take care…
“I have to agree with much of what you said. I have posted a lot about how glad I am to be gone, and believe me I am. It wasn’t that myself or any other former ICE agents I know hate or hated worksite investigations, alien smuggling/trafficking, benefit fraud, or infrastructure protection. It was the fact that we were kept from investigating and were buried with processing. Processing wouldn’t be so bad if the system was designed better to be user friendly, i.e. when processing in the Central time zone, all of a sudden, the cursor would freeze. Someone would say, “oh that’s just west coast coming on line.” The cursor may stay frozen for 5 minutes to 2 hours. Thus, making processing of one alien an all day fiasco. Could someone not address this? My thoughts are yes, but nobody was willing. The lead agency in Homeland Security has dealt with 3rd rate systems and equip,emt for too long! In my opinion, the problem is all of the legacy Customs managers who have no clue about conducting an immigration investigation and have never sat in front of an “Enforce” screen. They sit back and say such things as, “It is what it is,” or “That’s who we are now” and of course, “If you don’t like it…www.usajobs.opm.gov.” That is one of the biggest problems. And the result is, experienced INS and Customs 1811’s are leaving in a mass Exodus leaving agents like yourself, willing to work, to tow the line while slugs remain in the shadows collecting 13 pay. Meanwhile supervisors sit in their offices telling someone else to go process. An agency cannot have an immigration mission with Customs management nor vice versa. As far as agencies laughing, I have heard a lot of it. I for one do not laugh but rather empathize with my former co-workers. Concerning laughing, I think what FormerICE was speaking of was how ICE management, namely at the national level, spins up these recruitment programs that ICE is currently the lead agency in counter terrorism, espionage, etc and how Customs investigations have not diminished. Conduct a Youtube search of Julie Myers and watch the film, it’s ridiculous! From what I experienced at ICE, that is just not true! The statistics say it all; Customs Investigations have plummeted in quality and quantity since 2003. CBP is going to get 1811’s, it’s coming. The problem of separating Immigration and Customs Inspectors from the agents has not been rectified, therefore, someone at CBP is thinking about getting seizures evolved into controlled deliveries again and having agents and inspectors involved in a working relationship again. I hate it for you guys, but an opportunity became available and I took it. Compared to what I dealt with at ICE, it’s like waking up from a nightmare. Every day I am grateful to be gone.”
Just my opinion…sorry for the long post.

freefromice on June 18, 2008 at 1:24 pm

This chick took handcuffs to the hot tub?!? How uncustoms of her, she should have taken a picture of herself with a machine gun instead, and talked about how cool taking credit for local drug busts was in the ‘old days’. You legacy Customs guys ROCK, as in rockingchair. Wow, flying up and down the Potomac looking for SAMs must have been the stuff, whew hew!
You guys must be smoking the good stuff now…

code7 on June 18, 2008 at 9:48 pm

code7
You know what? I haven’t even considered this Sedgebear lady. Don’t know her and never heard of the incident until this blog. 2tired and I are just having what I would consider friendly debate. But since you know so much about Customs, you obviously know it was considered by many, including me, to be a gem. I’m sure you also know that from at least 1996 through 2003, which is the era I was part of Customs, EVERY CBES class at FLETC (that is Customs Basic Enforcement School and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, I bet you call it “FLEE-TEC) contained numerous trainees who were jumping from other agencies! In my CBES class, 21 of 24 came from other federal agencies; 1 from FBI, 4 from Secret Service, 2 from INS Inspections, 3 from INS Investigations, 4 from Customs Inspections, 1 from U.S. Park Police, 1 from U.S. Capitol Police, and 5 from Border Patrol(INS). The rest of us were from local agencies, including me. Yes Customs had issues and problems like any other agency but nothing like the level of B.S and low morale of that with INS. Yea Customs was way behind, just like when we quit using the Customs Automated Travel System and went to paper vouchures the “Michael Garcia/INS way!” Nothin like going from getting paid in two days to two months! Yea that rocked! code7 you must rock when you’re processing! I bet you can line up the pictures in the A-file like no one else!

freefromice on June 18, 2008 at 11:32 pm

Frankie the Fig being able to retire with full benefits was laughable. The guy was a convicted felon and predator. How this agent continues to be on the job is a mystery. Yeah, she hasn’t been convicted of anything, but come on, handcuffing a female to force her to perform sex acts on you and your boyfriend? I’ve seen agents removed for less. It’s common knowledge that the higher you get on the payscale the less likely you are to be investigated by OPR or the IG. Man, can I tell you stories about my former ASAC and the crap this guy pulled (reported to OPR by the way by several agents.). He retired, no questions asked. Was in a meeting with two other LE agencies yesterday. Yes, they are laughing at ICE. Won’t tell you that, but they are.

FormerICE on June 19, 2008 at 8:17 am

Actually freefromice the part I admired most about the former Customs service was their money laundering pursuits, although the IRS did some great work in this area, too.
The thing about other agencies and also foreign armies, is that they hate arrogant, condescending, self-absorbed, “legends-in-their-own-minds, who don’t appreciate the sacrifices others make in the common missions.
That the former Customs service was able to dance to its own tune for so long isn’t something that is even remotely relevant to todays enforcement needs.
Handcuffs in the hot tub? At least she had a pair.

code7 on June 19, 2008 at 9:56 am

Former ICE: The agent in question was not that high up the totem pole and may in fact still have been in the 3 year probation period when this happened. I might be totally wrong on this, but I am quite sure that she was not anything above a 12/13 when this happened. Don’t forget that most agents hired in the past 5 years are term appts who can be terminated without cause in the first 3 years. Therefore, if there was any merit to this charge, she would have been #$&caned pretty fast.
Freefromice: I do agree with you in that the former USCS was something to envy. We had the best case management system of any agency. Our system is genius in its simplicity. It rarely goes down like the legacy INS systems, and any agent in the country can access your ROIs from any where. I was amazed that when we merged, INS had no form of case management and did vouchers with pencils and paper. They had agents with no in car radios, no cell phones or pagers, driving hundreds of miles a day to transport aliens in cars with 175k miles.
Back in the day, people were begging to get on with USCS. I had to wait almost 5 years for the next wave of hiring just to get in the door. Now people are begging to leave. The fact that ICE HQ talks about how many people want to join ICE is a joke. We are taking kids fresh out of college and giving them a badge and a gun. When I went through the academy in 2002, there were six agents who had just graduated from college in May and were onboard. One was waiting to turn 21 while we were in the academy. What a joke. By the way, 3 have left because the hours were too much for them! The other three are now 14 program managers. It amazes me that a 26 year old is a 14 over a nation wide program. They will be out as GSs or RACs at age 28.
Did the merger destroy the USCS. Tuff to say. We still have a lot left over, but we have become a nightmare of BS and mismanagement. Garcia was only the beginning. I remember when he came and spoke to a graduating class at FLETC and said “Pay banding will never be introduced to ICE”. Two months later he was shoving it down our throats.
It is my hope that DRO takes over all the alien BS including road side and worksite. I have been to 3 worksite TDYs in the past year. I have never been trained on the INS systems, so I just end up standing there with the over 200 legacy agents with no training on INS looking pretty for the camera.

2tired on June 19, 2008 at 10:24 am

I think there is a lot of good discussion going on here, and I would like to stick my nose in.
I have been a BPA, INS 1811, and a Customs 1811, and I think this gives me kind of a unique view of things. Prior to leaving INS, I worked with some of the most intelligent, hardworking, and determined agents I have ever known. The only reason I left is I was looking for better geography. When the merger happened, I thought it was a mistake. However, as things are progressing, it seems the agency is improving.
Both INS and Customs were bound for a mass exodus around merger time. As we all know the government hires in waves. That generation of agents were going to move on anyway, the merger just sped up the process. Now we are a very young agency, in about 20 years this cycle will repeat.
The best thing that can happen for both OI and DRO is for the admin stuff to go their way. God bless them they can justify higher pay grades, and the 1811s can get back to work.

IwithaCandE on June 20, 2008 at 9:05 pm