Sources familiar with situation say the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an internal investigation focusing on allegations that three high ranking agents not only worked together on a mandatory FBI test online, a violation of department policy, but may have received the answers from an FBI lawyer. Agents are required to take the test on their own.
Two of the agents declined to comment. A third did not return a phone call.
Speculation as to what might happen to the agents has been circulating in law enforcement circles in recent days. Generally punishments in the FBI can range from a reprimand to a demotion to a firing.
The test, which is on the bureau’s Domestic Investigation and Operations Guide (DIOG), is given to all FBI agents including FBI Director Robert Mueller III and to some support staff on the operational side. Agents attend a class on the subject before the test and have to take it over again if they flunk.
The test is an open book exam, but can be time consuming and requires that it be done individually. The FBI also expects agents to find the answers themselves and not rely on others to provide them. The test can easily take 2 or 3 hours to complete.
The DIOG, according to the FBI website “establishes the FBI’s internal rules and procedures to implement the Attorney General’s Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations (AGG-Dom), which are posted on the Department of Justice’s website, www.usdoj.gov.”
“These rules, which will be audited and enforced through a rigorous compliance mechanism, are designed to ensure that FBI assessments and investigations are subject to responsible review and approval and do not target anyone or any group on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, or the exercise of any other right guaranteed by the Constitution.”
Michael Kortan, the FBI’s chief spokesman, declined comment on Tuesday.
Comment Thursday From Anonymous Reader:
“Clearly, the gross cheating outlined in this matter at WFO woud cost a street agent his job. How senior managers will be treated by the Director will be interesting to watch. Letting any of these individuals retire without public discipline would be tragic but not unexpected in the Bureau. This incident has already languished for a week and is not that difficult to adjudicate.”
Clearly, the gross cheating outlined in this matter at WFO woud cost a street agent his job. How senior managers will be treated by the Director will be interesting to watch. Leting any of these individuals retire without public discipline would be tragic but not unexpected in the Bureau. This incident has already languished for a week and is not that difficult to adjudicate.
Well, it is an improvement to see their boss Joe P announce his retirement. He was in over his head when he was a street agent in NYC. Totally inept interviewer. Found his place in management. No surprise a scandal forced him out—-I would be happy to help him pack. He was a disgrace to the FBI when he was a flunkie in the Inspection Division. Now his ox is being gored !
At least the FBI Agents used an Agency attorney for the answers and not the group secretary.