Marshals Fight Battle in Air and on Ground

(CBS)  The Federal Air Marshal Service is considered the last line of defense in our nation's aviation security. Its mission: to deploy armed, undercover agents on selected domestic and international flights to protect against a terrorist threat.

But a CBS News investigation has found the agency is fighting a battle not just up in the air but in its own backyard as well.

"How would you describe the management in the air marshal service?" CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian asked a current air marshal.

"Sexist, racist, homophobic, anti-disabled vet group, grossly incompetent," said the marshal, whose identity was concealed. "That's the general consensus among air marshals."

Nearly two dozen current or former marshals have told CBS News the agency is dominated by an "old boys club" of white, male supervisors -- mainly ex-secret service agents who, they allege, routinely discriminate, intimidate and retaliate against employees who question their actions or authority.

"This behavior has just spread like a cancer and it's out of control," the marshal said.

There are, on average, more than 23,000 domestic flights and nearly 4,000 international flights coming in and out of the U.S. every day and just about 3,000 air marshals to cover all those flights.

"As an agent, your job is to basically prevent planes from flying into buildings, protect the aircrafts. And the culture of this management was to demean and demoralize their agents rather than support them," said Craig Sawyer, a former air marshal.

And the lawsuits, records and other material we discovered depict a hostile work environment in field offices nationwide.

More on Air Marshals from Pro Publica

In New Jersey, a female air marshal contends she was told "women don't belong here."

In Chicago, two marshals charge they were fired after complaining their supervisors used racial slurs.

In Cincinnati, six air marshals say they were harassed based on age, race and physical disabilities.

And a photo obtained by CBS News shows a board posted in a field office in Orlando. It's set up like the game show "Jeopardy" where, it's alleged, managers used derogatory code words to refer to groups who would be harassed or get undesirable assignments - including homosexuals, African Americans, veterans and others. The TSA is investigating.

"This affects every American citizen because their tax dollars are being wasted, and their protection is being squandered," Craig Sawyer said.

Sawyer is a former air marshal manager and a decorated combat vet. He says this kind of culture has crippled the agency.

"There are thousands and thousands of flights that are unprotected because good agents have been chased off," Sawyer said.

That may be why, as one internal email shows, the service recently sought help from six other federal agencies -- like the Coast Guard -- in order to meet a "90-day [TSA] surge initiative" to increase security on U.S. flights in response to the attempted Christmas day attack.

The Federal Air Marshal Service declined to speak with CBS News on camera. But in a statement late today the service said is "dedicated to …fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace…" and has a "…policy of zero tolerance of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace."

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano oversees the service.

"We want our air marshals to feel that they are treated well and we will work with them on resolving certain issues," Napolitano said.

But that's little consolation to air marshals who are seeing more and more problems in an agency that's supposed to prevent them.

[sashieq]

I find it convenient that the IG report deliberately overlooked possibly one of the FAMS worst (active) retaliation cases in Boston where defense witnesses have been personally attacked and intimidated from the highest of authorities. These actions have sent a ripple effect across ever office. The Agency reports that they are making changes but in reality they are still trying to cover up the worst offenses with IG's help. The numbers don't lie, but as damning as they are...they don't reflect the worst of the worst....nor do they reflect that the retaliation is still occurring to this day.

[ghostwriter5688]

Yeah that Mass case is a game changer. That has HQ written all over it. That is one they want to keep real quiet. Sends the message- never be a defense witness or step forward with the truth or you will get wacked.

[ashaindra]

Just when we thought we were entering a progressive decade...as a country we just can't afford to have a federal agency this important operate this incompetently. At least some of the Marshals are coming out and telling everyone so hopefully they can fix the program.
This newsy video really elaborates well on the discrimination present in the agency:

http://www.newsy.com/videos/us-air-marshals-accused-of-discrimination

[pattjenks]

The best way to avoid hostile work environments like at the sky marshals is to do a background check on your bosses at eBossWatch (www.ebosswatch.com) before you take a new job.

[GreenMachine2010]

Let's see, the Federal Air Marshals are run by "Sexist, racist, homophobic, anti-disabled vet group, grossly incompetent," said the marshal, whose identity was concealed. "That's the general consensus among air marshals."

Let's look at the facts: Of the seven top officials in the FAMS (Director, Deputy and five Ass't Directors), four are white males, two are white females and one is a black male. (43% minority)

Of the tweny-one field office Special Agents in Charge, 13 are white males, three are black males, three are white females, one is an Asian male and one is a Hispanic male. (38% minority)

I will bet the percentage on non white males in upper management is higher than the FBI and most Federal law enforcement agencies.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

by jv32 February 2, 2010 3:10 PM EST
And racism and homophopbia don't exist in the military...
_______________________________________________________________
I never said it didn't... What I'm implying is that they have stricter disipline and those type of things are less likely to be shown due to the face that they are more in the open where they can easily be investigated and/or prosecuted.

[gerrytwo]

This air marshal story is old news, something CBS and ABC reported on about five years ago. Then the reports were that the retired Secret Service agents who took over the Air Marshal program did such things as require marshals to wear business suits on flights. A dress code for undercover agents that made the marshals stand out like sore thumbs. No one now is going to get rid of these arrogant Secret Service "double dippers," most of whom earn over $200,000 a year between their salaries and pensions for basically doing nothing but occupy corner offices. Not Napolitano, Obama's dimwit HSA secretary. More of change we can't believe in.

[ramos1129]

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano oversees the service.

---------------------------------------------

There is no way in the world that Napolitano can oversee the Service and Homeland Security at the same time. Both suffer.

What she needs to do is to appoint an acting Director. Someone on the order of General Honore of NO fame. He would do whatever it takes to straighten out these guys. Until she does, she will have chaos.

[jv32]

Don't comment on things you don't understand. The Air Marshal Service falls under DHS so she does oversee it, however the Service has it's own director.

[enwr77]

Wouldn't the best security be where the marshalls did not look like security. That is where diversity would come to play. If someone who is 5 foot 1 and 220 pounds is not an ideal security employee, than that person would be the best undercover.

[chatmandu7451]

Another example of a protected class crying discrimination.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Scrap the US Air Marshal Program and let it be taken over by full time police officers, US Marines, Army Rangers, Army Green Berrets, Navy Seals, Black Ops, what ever it takes to get this next to useless system out of our worries. The only reason I consider it to be next to useless is because of the fact of the racism and homophobia shown in this profession. We do not need this type of thing as defense if they cannot get along themselves.

[jv32]

And racism and homophopbia don't exist in the military...

[stinger1z]

If you feel you are being discriminated against, put a camera or recorder on and get it on the record.

[brianbwb2011]

I would add that handphones make this easier than ever, but once the data is collected, don't go to your superiors, or even theirs, as tey are all in on it.

Instead, go straight to the press.