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. We found no evidence that any racial restrictions, either explicit or implicit, were placed on the distribution of these invitations. Although in earlier years we found efforts by Rightmyer to ensure that women were treated appropriately and these women reported no problems, we found little evidence of concern in the later years when the objectionable conduct became pervasive. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Hayward and his attorney terminated the interview shortly after the questioning turned to Hayward's own white supremacist views and activities. 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. A problem arises, however, when a leader decides to sweep an issue under the rug. Our investigative and interviewing strategy was designed to get beyond potentially self-serving accounts. These people are so bitter that they spend most trying to screw over each other in order to make themselves feel better. Hayward also brought some bumper stickers and hats to sell, without much success. Only one DOJ employee, now retired, served in an official organizational capacity as an "MOB," which stood for the "members of the board" or "mean old bastards," the group with responsibility for cooking, registration, and official recreational activities. Such conduct included playing music with racist lyrics at campsites; wearing, trading, and selling T-shirts with racially insensitive messages; telling racially offensive jokes during official competitions; and, in the context of particular facts found, displaying Confederate flags. 3. 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. He is adept in several forms of martial arts, including Kenpo Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and various grappling styles. We also found that an atmosphere hostile to minorities -- and to women -- developed over time because inadequate action was taken by the Roundup's organizers to appropriately deal with instances of racial or other kinds of misconduct. And although we were able to identify more who had been invited to attend, most chose not to -- some merely because the name and location suggested to them that they would not be welcome there. 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). The two primary accusers were Jeffrey Randall and a person identified only as a "former Alabama police official," whom we later determined to be Richard Hayward. There are several standard U.S. Air Force uniforms, just like other DoD branches. This failure, together with the availability of massive amounts of alcohol, no doubt contributed to the recurrence of such incidents. Second, there are few issues within a police organization that should be held close to the chest (i.e.- internal affairs investigations or sensitive investigations). These standards apply to employees' off-duty conduct in addition to their conduct on the job. Rightmyer also announced generally that everyone in law enforcement was welcome at the Roundup, and those who disagreed should leave. Racist signs were posted in at least two years: 1990 and 1992. As discussed below, two of them who were accompanied by a white ATF agent got into a confrontation when the white ATF agent was accused of "bringing niggers to the Roundup" by the event staff members who were operating the "Nigger checkpoint.". Cronyism is a more specific form of favoritism, referring to partiality towards friends and associates. The good ol boys of the work site have ruled on how things seem to get down. However, the respective components may wish to consider counseling for some of their employee participants based on our findings. But the inquiry is, by necessity, highly fact-specific. 2. 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. Remarkably, we found no one in attendance who appeared to be offended by such activity or who sought to curb it. Rightmyer also announced generally that everyone in law enforcement was welcome at the Roundup, and those who disagreed should leave. 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. Do Jobs Prevent Or Deter Incarcerations? OIG also found insufficient evidence to conclude that a racist sign was displayed in any part of the campground during the 1989 Roundup. As the old saying goes, "It's not what you know but who you know," or, as blogger Danny Ferguson put it, "It's not what you don't know; it's who your college roommate knows." Over time, when you copy an image repeatedly, the pixilation becomes distorted, and over time its not a useful quality image worth printing. We are not aware of any effort that was made to establish who posted the signs. Immediately after the skit, Rightmyer publicly criticized its participants but took no other action, such as ejecting them from the Roundup. #3. Many police organizations have faced this lopsided leadership option (McMillin, 1999). The initial allegations brought in their wake a blanket condemnation of all federal law enforcement personnel who attended the event. I, personally, served under them and would gladly fall on a sword if they asked even all these years later. 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. Instead, they share the group's racial beliefs system. Misappropriation of funds in local government, discrimination against businesses, or favoritism allowing certain people to do . Others witnessed or heard enough that they showed poor judgment in not taking appropriate steps to satisfy themselves that the objectionable conduct would not recur. 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. 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. With respect to a second individual, formerly employed by INS but now an employee of Treasury, we are transmitting information to the applicable Department of Treasury component by which he is now employed for consideration of possible discipline. We found no evidence that anyone complained about such displays or that any action was taken to remove them. Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. Self-censorship: People avoid deviating from the norms of the group and would rather fit in over having a better answer. If a toxic leader surrounds him or herself with only people that nod, agree, and kiss their ass, theyll see no need for improvement. Friends and family can usually be counted on for loyalty, and officeholders are in a good position to know their strengths. When he filed a complaint, the lawsuit alleges LMPD command "directed and authorized efforts to intimidate, harrass and surveil" him. agent and to the applicable Department of Treasury component for one of its employees who used to be employed by DOJ. When the persons in the registration area observed the sign, it was removed. If someone is accused of wrongdoing, its up to a jury of their peers to determine their fate. In July 1995, national attention focused suddenly on an annual private gathering in southeastern Tennessee known as the "Good O' Boy Roundup" (Roundup). 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. Such conduct included playing music with racist lyrics at campsites; wearing, trading, and selling T-shirts with racially insensitive messages; telling racially offensive jokes during official competitions; and, in the context of particular facts found, displaying Confederate flags. Racist signs, bumper stickers, hats, banners, and other display items littered the campground site when Hayward and Randall attended the Roundups. An important part of the climate was established by the availability of unlimited amounts of alcohol. Maintain a fair and consistent workplace; employees who feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully are less likely to complain or sue. Internal transparency builds trust and more importantly- ownership. Although we found credible evidence that Rightmyer gave speeches exhorting participants to stop such behavior, his efforts were sporadic at best and essentially went unheeded. New York, NY: Random House. We found no evidence that the invitations to the Roundup, either written or oral, made explicit references or even allusions to racial restrictions on attendance or that racist activities were available or welcome at the event. Indeed, by 1990, law enforcement officers -- federal, state, and local -- were outnumbered by participants who had no such affiliation. The display of the Confederate flag is a controversial matter. . Connections and concessions are made at power lunches, at the sports bar, at the country club, or on the golf course. Every law enforcement agency must decide how they are going to promote their employees. These materials were prepared for the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics program in Government Ethics by former Senior Fellow Judy Nadler and former Communications Director Miriam Schulman. Copyright 2023 We have reported these not for their shock value but instead to give an accurate picture of what the Roundup was like. 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. Thus, we had a responsibility to gather as much evidence as possible on the experiences of the DOJ personnel who attended the Roundup so we could absolve the innocent as well as blame the guilty. He is currently the SWAT commander and oversees the Metro Divisions Special Operations section. 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. Thirty-six were DOJ employees when they attended; eight went prior to becoming DOJ employees. 8. He was going for another term, his fifth, and as the . In addition, two local women provided affidavits to the Senate Judiciary Committee alleging, among other things, that a woman had been gang-raped at a Roundup, a "drug enforcement officer" had offered one of them drugs during a Roundup, and a goat had been purchased for bestiality purposes. The signs were removed and destroyed. 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. When the organizers of the Roundup learned about the signs, they ordered the signs taken down. Decisions that need to be made get kicked down the road and unpopular people no matter their competence have no voice. Brian earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from California State, Sacramento and has a MS in Organizational Leadership from National University. 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. 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. The good ol boy system is when a leader unabashedly chooses favorites among their subordinates. Katzenbach, J., Steffen, I., & Kronley, C. (2012). Why Violence Is Increasing. We found evidence of the unofficial sale of T-shirts during several Roundups that some persons found to be racially insensitive. The person who observed the sign reported that it was gone within half an hour. He has written articles for several publications, including Law Enforcement Today, Peace Officers Research Association of California, Police One, The Oxford University Press, The Journal of California Law Enforcement; and has contributed to chapters in IGI Global Publishing textbooks. The Orange County Sheriffs Office has problems like everywhere else, but at least Sheriff Kevin Beary supports his troops. Although Rightmyer again criticized the officer who performed this skit, he took no other action. Although numerous liaisons between Roundup participants and local women were reported, we found no evidence that these liaisons were anything but consensual and non-remunerative. An exhaustive investigation and a full report of the Good O' Boy Roundup was important for several reasons. B. 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. 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. The last person to be able to consume the required amount without a break was the winner. We should have flying cars, human-like AI's, teleporters and more. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Favoritism can be demonstrated in hiring, honoring, or awarding contracts. Moreover, OIG interviewed residents in the area near where the Roundup was held to learn what relevant evidence they might possess. We found no evidence that such "licenses" were widely available at the Roundup; indeed, we found no one other than Randall who claimed to have seen one in the campground. In response to this activity and an article Hayward published about the Roundup the following month in the NAAWP Newsletter, in which he claimed that numerous David Duke supporters attended the Roundup, the event's organizers instituted new policies for 1993 prohibiting political and racist activity. To call a sheriff a part of the Good Ol' Boy network, I think is an injustice," Kemp said. WHAS11 talked to two retired LMPD officers who are African Americans. 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. 2. In 1992, he left a pile of these materials at the registration desk, which the people at the desk promptly discarded. Rules are paramount to maintaining order and uniformity in the military. Catmull, E. (2014). Satterthwaite is asking for reinstatement to his position, a trial by jury and that the department covers his attorney fees. In insular environments, when ambiguous issues arise in meetings, there is a lack of questions that limit learning and understanding. The preponderance of the evidence suggested that local police officers from Florence and Boone County, Kentucky, were responsible for posting these signs. Other than one inappropriate comment by one FBI agent, we found no evidence that any DOJ employee engaged in racist or other misconduct while at the Roundup. 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. Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. Apparently, the same concern and solicitude did not extend to the relatively few female law enforcement personnel who went to a Roundup. The last person to be able to consume the required amount without a break was the winner. In the lawsuit, Officer Philip Satterthwaite claims that LMPD officials promoted friends and family members over better-qualified candidates. Overall, OIG interviewed large numbers of people who attended the Roundup, particularly in those years for which there were extremely serious allegations of racist and other misconduct. 2. 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. We also found substantial credible evidence of racially insensitive conduct in 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1993. On two occasions the Redneck of the Year contest contained blatantly racist material. The "good ol' boy" system is when a leader unabashedly chooses favorites among their subordinates. One witness also recalled that Hayward was wearing a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mask with a bullet hole in the forehead. OIG made special efforts to interview persons from many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and to interview a large number of participants who had no law enforcement affiliation. This process is a cancer that eats away your staff until the only remaining experienced staff you have are beyond disgruntled. The banner was thrown in the trash. . News stories reported that the Roundup was a "whites-only" gathering of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and other federal law enforcement officers that resembled a "Klan rally" and at which these agents discriminated against blacks by posting racist signs, wearing racist T-shirts, performing racist skits, and playing racist music. Although not raised initially as allegations, OIG found substantial credible evidence of rampant alcohol abuse and extreme cases of juvenile and shocking behavior. Some witnesses we found to be extremely credible; others to be wholly incredible. Our investigation found that DOJ employees played a minor role in the official activities and organization of the Roundup. For most of the allegations, no physical or documentary evidence was available. ", 5. In addition to charges of racism, allegations of criminal or other misconduct were also raised. The law is clear and yet, somehow, different troops arent held to the same standard for the same crimes. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Logan of the University of Kentucky, the lead researcher, noted that the rural women were from the Appalachian area, which has received media attention because of drug use. . A third local resident made a vague and contradictory claim that marijuana was used in the campground during one unspecified Roundup. 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. News stories reported that the Roundup was a "whites-only" gathering of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and other federal law enforcement officers that resembled a "Klan rally" and at which these agents discriminated against blacks by posting racist signs, wearing racist T-shirts, performing racist skits, and playing racist music. Why this hurts us Personal written invitations were sent only to those who had previously registered for a Roundup. This failure, together with the availability of massive amounts of alcohol, no doubt contributed to the recurrence of such incidents. 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. In 1991 wo-men accounted for only 9% of law enforcement agencies (Price, 1996). Council members, mayors, and legislators must make special efforts to ensure that they hear all sides of an issue rather than just relying on the views of the people they know. Contrary to the media accounts of this incident, the black agents were not turned away from the Roundup. Lexipol. http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html, https://hbr.org/2012/07/cultural-change-that-sticks, https://qz.com/196273/how-to-break-up-the-old-boys-club-in-your-office/. According to the lawsuit, LMPD eliminated Satterthwaite's position as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer without explanation. Randall also alleged that a T-shirt with a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a target superimposed over his face, was offered for sale. Now you are bringing niggers to the Roundup." For 1995, Randall contended that "nigger hunting licenses" were openly available on the Roundup campground. 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. You want to make sure that you have a diverse leadership, the former FBI agent said. 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. After conducting a comprehensive investigation of the Roundup from OIG also found insufficient evidence to conclude that a racist sign was displayed in any part of the campground during the 1989 Roundup. 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. We are disturbed that an event characterized by rampant public drunkenness, widespread public lewdness, and in later years episodes of racist conduct drew participants from DOJ and other law enforcement organizations. 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.
