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. These signs included, "Nigger checkpoint," "Any niggers in that car?," "no niggers," and "17 cents lb." Other isolated but nevertheless significant evidence of racially offensive or insensitive conduct occurred in a number of years. Immediately after the skit, Rightmyer publicly criticized its participants but took no other action, such as ejecting them from the Roundup. During this 16-year period, only 4 black law enforcement agents ever attempted to attend the Roundup. 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." Even if things that might not be right or ethical That it is line staff who are put in harms way everyday. Furthermore, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in public hearings emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation because the allegations implicated numerous law enforcement agencies in the criminal justice system. Intent and a "Whites-only" Policy OIG investigated every allegation of specific racist misconduct made by Hayward, Randall, several current and former black ATF agents, and witnesses who were interviewed during the course of this investigation. Solely on our findings, an appropriate sanction would be a reprimand, either written or oral. Op/Ed: Police Stops Are Dangerous. It is the 21st century. #3. Some minority agents also expressed a reluctance to attend because the Roundup was held in the woods of an all-white county in Eastern Tennessee. When groupthink is present, big ideas get pushed down, shunned, or worst never shared with the group in the first place. f) T-shirts Because of the historical connections between similar sites and racist activities, these agents attributed racist intentions to the Roundup due simply to its location. This attention may have affected community differences such as law enforcement priorities if some agencies were focusing more on drug use than on domestic violence. Randall was even less cooperative, refusing to answer more than a few basic questions in the presence of other militia members in late July and refusing our requests for a subsequent interview. That same day several of the Fort Lauderdale officers left the Roundup. 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. We are not aware of any effort that was made to establish who posted the signs. (2014). c) Racist Skits The lawsuit, filed by Sam Aguiar on behalf of Officer Philip Satterthwaite, claims LMPD allows friends, family and favorites to receive positions over more qualified applicants, particularly Black officers. This failure, together with the availability of massive amounts of alcohol, no doubt contributed to the recurrence of such incidents. Vari Hall, Santa Clara University500 El Camino RealSanta Clara, CA 95053408-554-5319, Ethical Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination, Hackworth Fellowships Project Showcase 2021, The Ethics of Going Back to School in a Pandemic, Systemic Racism, Police Brutality, and the Killing of George Floyd, COVID-19: Ethics, Health and Moving Forward, The Ethical Implications of Mass Shootings, Political Speech in the Age of Social Media, Point/Counterpoint: Democratic Legitimacy, Brett Kavanaugh and the Ethics of the Supreme Court Confirmation Process. In our view, the existing standards of conduct are broad enough to regulate off-duty conduct when it could impair the effectiveness of DOJ employees or bring discredit on their employing agency. 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. 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. II. But the inquiry is, by necessity, highly fact-specific. Racist skits were performed in 1990 and 1992. Most agencies that employ such tactics ultimately end up with a sub-par employee energy level, providing little more to the public they serve than the status quo. I define the Good Ole Boy System as people who get promoted (or get a job) based off their relationships, rather than past performance, qualifications and job . 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. Although we found that in certain years egregious acts of racism occurred, in most cases we concluded that the DOJ employees in attendance those years were either unaware of such conduct or had learned that the organizers had taken action to terminate it. The caption read, "Boyz on the Hood." 2. OIG also found insufficient evidence to conclude that a racist sign was displayed in any part of the campground during the 1989 Roundup. 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. What ethical dilemmas do favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism present. Regardless of their source, if true, these allegations threatened to seriously undermine the ability of these agents to perform their critical missions, particularly enforcing federal criminal law, upholding civil rights laws, and providing equal protection under the law. Hayward also brought some bumper stickers and hats to sell, without much success. 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. In 1992, he left a pile of these materials at the registration desk, which the people at the desk promptly discarded. Above all, be vigilant that the good old boys do not inhabit your workplace. In conducting this investigation, the OIG's principal purposes were (1) to determine whether DOJ employees had committed acts that might warrant sanction by their components and (2) to determine whether existing standards of conduct provide adequate guidance as they relate to off-duty conduct or whether any changes in administrative policy or practice should be made. 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. When he believed that OIG intended to seek court enforcement of the subpoena he publicly threatened bloodshed. These men and women have been the . 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. #TheGoodOleBoy - Twitter Search / Twitter [P]ublic nudity was commonplace at various Roundups [with] women dancers, women baring their chests, [and] a retired officer exposing himself with his badge displayed on his penis. The only identifying information we received was that an unspecified person from Ohio and another from Mississippi possessed one of these tapes. These allegations also threatened to taint the public reputation of the agencies that employed these agents. The lawsuit details the process that LMPD is required to go through when promoting internally, which includes interviews and a ranking system. This interviewing strategy was designed to ferret out as much information from as many different sources as possible to minimize the chances that racial or other kinds of misconduct might be concealed from us. 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. Finally in October he relinquished the videotape for analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and agreed to an on-the-record interview. The Report documented widespread federal, state, and local law enforcement abuse of black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other civil rights activists who protested in the 1950s, 60s and 70s for equal rights, fair justice, and voting rights in America. 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. -- a particular responsibility of the Department of Justice. No DOJ employee ever served on the "REX" (Roundup Executive Committee), the group responsible for setting Roundup policies. TVs Krystal Ball on Rising.. When the conduct was brought to the attention of Roundup organizers it was criticized and terminated. 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. The person who observed the sign reported that it was gone within half an hour. So, unconsciously we end up testing them, and closely evaluating their every move. The other unimpressively slides through work but goes fishing with the commander on weekends. Maintaining a healthy skepticism of your own thoughts and ideas leads to a growth mindset. We believe that such off-duty responsibilities are not well-understood by many DOJ employees. In addition, allegations of criminal conduct, including narcotics distribution and rape, were raised at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing held within ten days of the original news stories. OIG investigated every allegation of specific racist misconduct made by Hayward, Randall, several current and former black ATF agents, and witnesses who were interviewed during the course of this investigation. Indeed, by 1990, law enforcement officers -- federal, state, and local -- were outnumbered by participants who had no such affiliation. In addition to the persons who brought allegations of racism to light, OIG sought to interview persons who were identified as having committed racially offensive acts. The initial allegations brought in their wake a blanket condemnation of all federal law enforcement personnel who attended the event. We conclude that the name "Good O' Boy" was not selected or used with the intent to send a message that the event was racially exclusive. Public officials should also note that dilemmas involving favoritism extend beyond hiring and contracting practices to the more general problem of influence. (Subsequently, the FBI concluded that Hayward's video taken at the 1990 Roundup was authentic and had not been altered.). CLICK HERE TO TAKE A SURVEY ON TOXIC LEADERSHIP IN THE WORKPLACE, Andersen, H. (n.d.). Importantly as well, there were not many options given the initial objective of finding a site for an overnight camping and whitewater rafting trip near Rightmyer's duty office in Knoxville. We found no information as to who was responsible for this sign. This is particularly true in Southern states. Remarkably, we found no one in attendance who appeared to be offended by such activity or who sought to curb it. No DOJ employee ever served on the "REX" (Roundup Executive Committee), the group responsible for setting Roundup policies. 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. This woman denied that she was raped. 01-08-2001, 07:43 PM. 5 ways the 'good ol' boy' system screws good troops Equally frustrating are the other layers of government that do not see the overall impact of the good ole boy system. 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. One of the most basic themes in ethics is fairness, stated this way by Artistotle: "Equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally." We found evidence of the unofficial sale of T-shirts during several Roundups that some persons found to be racially insensitive. The interview comes after the DOJ released a report on Tuesday, revealing that women make uponly 16 percent of criminal investigative jobs within the departments central investigative agencies and hold few executive leadership positions. We have referred to the Director of the FBI a report with respect to this one current FBI employee for whom we recommend that punishment be considered for his behavior at the Roundup. Only through a full understanding of the context of the event and the employee's participation in it can a fair assessment be made of whether punishment is appropriate. racism and the criminal justice system, safety and preparing minority youth for interactions with police, fostering positive relationships between police and communities of color, assisting . Inmates who seem to threaten law suits and or . Many DOJ employees believe that what they do off duty is their business and not a proper concern of their employer. In addition, we found that because the central activity during most Roundups was the consumption of large quantities of Roundup-supplied alcohol, the organizers knowingly sacrificed the ability to control the conduct of participants. As we have noted, we are forwarding information to the Director of the FBI for consideration of discipline against an FBI The public drunkenness began far earlier and was a reason cited by many DOJ employees and others for not returning to the Roundup. In Hayward's case, for example, the important kernels of truth contained in his 1990 videotape and in his allegation regarding a particularly egregious racist skit in 1990 were combined with other allegations that were embellishments of actual events and in many cases distortions and outright fabrications. Charles Morgan started his career as a corrections officer at MECC, a level 3 facility, and then transferred to ERDCC, a level 5 facility. Former FBI agent: There is a 'good old boys club' in law enforcement 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. Seek out advice, if your world becomes too insular, it limits your creativity. ~ Georgina Chapman, Brian Ellis, Anthony H. Normore, & Mitch Javidi National Command and Staff College. Those who are not within the in-group will sooner or later find themselves burnt out, as issues they raise get discarded. Ultimately, the purported eyewitness recanted his claim. How to break up the old boys club in your office. The initial allegations brought in their wake a blanket condemnation of all federal law enforcement personnel who attended the event. 1. Scratch my back, Ill scratch yours Creativity Inc: Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration. Some minority agents also expressed a reluctance to attend because the Roundup was held in the woods of an all-white county in Eastern Tennessee. This kind of environment breeds groupthink which brings with it a host of problems including, but not limited to: The good ole boy system is a haven for groupthink, as the more group-focused the leadership team becomes, the less people are thinking and/or challenging each other. Randall was served with an OIG administrative subpoena for photographs of the Roundup and the original videotape, which Hayward had turned over to him. Other attendees intervened and broke up the confrontation. Worst yet are those organizations that seek improvement in this area and bring in another person to fix, who ultimately repeats the same thing in the attempt of changing the organization. In the change process, the new leader creates more of the same, as the only thing that changes are the players, not the game (Katzenbach, Steffen, & Kronley, 2012). DOJ regulations also prohibit employees from engaging in "disrespectful conduct." Performances in the skit competitions included participants who bit off the head of a dead snake; ate a whole raw fish soaked in beer; defecated on stage; soiled their trousers on stage; and pulled chewing tobacco out of their trousers pretending it to be excrement and put it in their mouths. . 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. First, the allegations of racist conduct contained in the initial media accounts and Congressional testimony were truly shocking. In 1990 officers from Florence and Boone County, Kentucky, and a civilian from Ohio performed a skit as part of the Redneck of the Year contest in which 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. petition: We Demand the corruption and good ole Boy system be Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. Now you are bringing niggers to the Roundup." 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.' 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. Favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism all interfere with fairness because they give undue advantage to someone who does not necessarily merit this treatment. 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. 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. One author has experienced time after time a working climate where people would rather be seen as smart, instead of asking the necessary clarification questions on a myriad of issues. I can see and understand how the system would come into practice. However, the respective components may wish to consider counseling for some of their employee participants based on our findings. Mayors put those they know and trust on citizens committees and commissions. 1. Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. researches product purchases and suppliers. Golfing partners, people who come over for Sunday dinner, members of the same congregation all are likely to exert a greater influence over an official than a stranger might. Maintain a fair and consistent workplace; employees who feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully are less likely to complain or sue. Maintaining a "Good Ol' Boys" Environment Is A Sure Way To Get Sued OIG also reviewed the testimony of hundreds of witnesses provided during interviews conducted by other agencies. Moreover, we found Randall's claim to have found the "license" in a Roundup bathroom not to be credible. ", 5. OIG investigated these allegations and concluded that none of the claims that a woman was raped at a Roundup were supported by the evidence. Race, racism and law enforcement: A call to action When he believed that OIG intended to seek court enforcement of the subpoena he publicly threatened bloodshed. 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. Racists with Badges: The Good Ol' Boys Roundup - donaldwatkins Although one other witness believed he saw a T-shirt similar to the one described by Randall worn by one person at the 1995 Roundup, OIG found insufficient credible evidence that such shirts were for sale at the Roundup. Youre seeing that problem right now with [FBI Director] Andy McCabe and the people there that moved up there and moved around quite fast, as opposed to having any female people, criminal investigators in those top ranks, she continued. Development opportunities go to the in crowd. It is the 21st century. When the investigation began, concern was raised that federal employees might have used government time and resources to promote racist activities, in violation of Office of Government Ethics standards. Hayward and his attorney terminated the interview shortly after the questioning turned to Hayward's own white supremacist views and activities. COLUMN: Bryan Co. Good Ol' Boy System Means No More Services for DV Hayward, who made the videotape with the "checkpoint" sign and who in an affidavit submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee claimed to have witnessed a broad array of racist acts at a number of the Roundups, refused for several months to cooperate with the OIG investigation, submit to an interview, or surrender the original videotape. OIG investigated these allegations and concluded that none of the claims that a woman was raped at a Roundup were supported by the evidence. We chase off and scare off new officers before they can grasp even the basics of our profession. Also the more difficult it is to prove yourself. Satterthwaite claims that an unmarked vehicle conducted surveillance on his home for several days, causing him to become "disturbed, frightened, confused and anxious." During the course of this investigation OIG interviewed over 500 witnesses, including participants in the Roundup, people who were invited but did not attend, vendors to the Roundup, DOJ employees based in Southeastern offices, river raft guides, local Tennessee residents, and others.