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U.S. Office of Special Counsel
1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218
Washington, D.C. 20036-4505
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U.S. OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL TRANSMITS REPORT OF INVESTIGATION IN
RESPONSE TO WHISTLEBLOWER'S ALLEGATIONS OF SAFETY CONCERNS AT ABERDEEN
PROVING GROUND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5/17/05
CONTACT: CATHY DEEDS, 202-254-3607,
CDEEDS@OSC.GOV
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Office of
Special Counsel (OSC) today transmitted a letter to the President detailing
findings and recommendations regarding an investigation conducted by the
U.S. Army into allegations that officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG),
Department of Law Enforcement (DLES), were engaged in gross mismanagement
and activities that resulted in a substantial and specific danger to public
health and safety. APG is the Army’s oldest active research, development,
testing and training facility for military equipment and weapons.
The whistleblower alleged that a lead dispatcher
with APG’s DLES Communication Center, in Aberdeen, Maryland, violated
security procedures and regulations by admitting individuals to highly
sensitive areas of APG solely on voice recognition and that he instructed
other employees to admit individuals on voice recognition. The whistleblower
also alleged that the dispatcher frequently turned off the National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) printer in the Communication Center preventing the
facility from receiving contemporaneous information on potential security
threats and criminal activity from law enforcement agencies and the
Department of Homeland Security. Finally, the whistleblower alleged that on
several occasions the dispatcher made violent and threatening statements to
the whistleblower and other employees in the workplace.
The Army’s investigation partially substantiated
the whistleblower’s allegations finding that the dispatcher failed to follow
the regulations for admitting individuals and was in violation of an APG
Regulation and standard operating procedure. The investigation showed that
other employees did not follow the proper procedures. The report stated that
the printer was inadvertently left offline and did not attribute this to the
dispatcher. Finally, the investigation revealed that there were significant
concerns with the dispatcher’s behavior prior to OSC’s referral, but that
due to this investigation, additional information was discovered which
expedited his suspension.
A number of corrective measures were taken by APG
in response to this investigation, including refresher training on access
procedures for protected areas, emphasizing the importance of following the
proper verification procedures requiring dispatchers to consult the access
book, and training on the proper operation of the NCIC printer and a sign
posted reminding staff to check the status of the printer. Due to the
severity of his conduct, the dispatcher was suspended for 30 days without
pay, ordered to attend counseling, and was reassigned to a different squad.
All employees were required to attend training on the consideration of
others and the prevention of sexual harassment.
APG also made significant management changes. The
Director, Northeast Region, Installation Management Activity, instructed
APG’s new Garrison Commander to counsel the Director, Law Enforcement and
Security, and the DLES Operating Division Chief, to ensure that DLES
personnel understand and comply with applicable regulations and SOPs and
that the environment is free from harassment and hostility. Finally, APG is
undertaking a more comprehensive reorganization and plans to hire a new
civilian supervisor and convert the position of Chief, DLES Operations
Division, from a military to a civilian position. The supervisor and DLES
Operating Division Chief in place during this investigation were stripped of
their responsibilities and under the reorganization will hold
non-supervisory positions.
The Special Counsel determined that the agency’s
report contains all the information required by statute and the agency’s
findings are reasonable. Special Counsel Scott Bloch said, “I’m proud of the
whistleblower that came forward because of their public safety concerns at
APG, and in the interest of our nation’s security.”
A copy of the Department of Army’s report is available from OSC.
***
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent
investigative and prosecutorial agency and operates as a secure channel for
disclosures of whistleblower complaints. Its primary mission is to safeguard
the merit system in federal employment by protecting federal employees and
applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially retaliation for
whistleblowing. OSC also has jurisdiction over the Hatch Act and the
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. For more
information please visit our web site at www.osc.gov or call 1-800-872-9855.
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