Is U.S. Marshal Service Racist?

Bill Scott was a highly decorated deputy marshal, and Stephen Zanowic was his partner, when they accused the U.S. Marshal Service of racial discrimination. That's when, they say, things really got bad. CBS News Correspondent Maggie Cooper reports.

[Note: This story contains explicit racial slurs.]

Bill Scott was a highly trained federal agent with more than 20 years of exceptional experience. His heroism was even dramatized on national television.

But when Deputy Marshal Scott won the 1991 National Law Enforcement of the Year Award, the chief marshal strenuously objected.

"He called and said he had a better person that could be eligible for such an award," recalls Gerald Arenberg of the National Association of the Chiefs of Police. "It was only later that I saw that obviously race was involved."

But to Scott himself, it came as no surprise. He says there was a pattern of racism within the U.S. Marshals Service, and he filed a discrimination complaint. Shortly after he received the 1991 award as law enforcement officer of the year, he says, he received a lewd photo.

Zanowic, Scott's partner, was eager to help, so he complained in a memo to management about racial slurs against his partner.

"It's like a little good ole boy network in the district," says Zanowic. "When the white males were together, [when] they were sure of their company, they would speak very, very negative things, like 'dumb-ass nigger' and 'dumb-ass incompetent nigger'."

But Zanowic says defending his partner made him a target of attacks. At a Christmas party, he says, an upper-management employee of the marshal service gave him a rat as a gift.

And when Zanowic filed a complaint charging that he was also a victim of discrimination, he says, the harassment escalated.

"Anyone that makes a complaint of racism in the U.S. Marshal Service becomes a target of internal affairs," says Zanowic.

Two years ago, an administrative judge found the Marshal Service had indeed engaged in racism against Scott. It was then that the Justice Department stepped in, creating its own ruling and overturning the judge's decision. Scott is now retired and suing the Justice Department.

"When you file an EEO complaint, that's the end of your career," says Deputy Marshal Matthew Fogg. "It's over with 'cause now you are going against the U.S. Marshal Service itself."

Fogg, a 20-year veteran of the service, filed a discrimination complaint against the U.S. marshals. He then also sued the Justice Department, and he claims his battle cost him his job and his health.

The Marshal Service, he says, was a big part of his life. "You know, I liked it," he says. "I really did. Even through everything I was going through."

Fogg also says that he was not seeking special treatment because of race. "I didn't want anybody to give me anything. I just simply wanted to earn what had on my merits."

The Marshal Service wouldn't discuss the charges by Fogg, Zanowic, and Scott. But they insist every discrimination complaint that is filed is taken seriously.

"To say that the Marshal Service has a problem because we have complaints that have been filed simply isn't true," says Debbie Ridley, who is with the Equal Opportunity Office of the U.S. Marshal Service. "If we supported every complaint that is filed, than we would assume that every allegation has merit and the agency wouldn't need to defend itself."

Asked if the U.S. Marshal Service is racist, Ridley says, "Is the organization racist? The answer would be no. Is it fair to paint us with a broad brush just because there have been discrimination complaints filed? The answer is no."

But, even though the Marshal Service denies it is racist, Ridley admits some concerns among African-American marshals are real. "Do black marshals feel that they have a problem being promoted in the Marshal Service? Yes, they do. Is it something the leadership is unaware of? The leadership is very much aware of it," he says.

Scott and Zanowic are suing the Justice Department and are currently awaiting trial. Last year, Fogg won his legal battle, the first discrimination judgment against the U.S. Marshal Service, and a jury recommended an award of $4 million.

"The U.S. Marshals Service has always stuck their chest out and said, 'We've never had a finding of discrimination'," says Fogg. "Well, they have one now."

The Marshal Service says they're just like any other organization when it comes to dealing with societal problems.

Says Ridley, "Is there a good old boy network operating in this environment? The answer to that question is yes. In every federal government agency in this country and every public and private sector organization in the country, the answer to that is yes. So that means the Marshal Service is not an anomaly."

Even after everything, Fogg says he would go back to the Marshal Service if he had the opportunity. "I would go back today," says Fogg, "because if I go back, then I can be a part of change."

But change is often slow. Fog hasn't received a penny of that $4 million award because there is a $300,000 cap on the amount a federal worker can receive in an employment discrimination suit.

And, while Zanowic and Scott are continuing their battle with the Justice Department, it could be years before they even get a trial date.