Federal Daily - February 22, 2010
Homeland Security Guns Not So Secure, OIG Says
Some of the federal officers charged with protecting the security of the nation don’t do a very good job keeping track of their own weapons, according to a government report.
In fact, between Fiscal Years 2006-2008, 179 Department of Homeland Security weapons were lost—some falling into the hands of criminals—after officers left them in restrooms, vehicles and other public places, says a DHS Office of Inspector General report released this month. The OIG is recommending stronger policies to safeguard and control firearms issued to department officers.
The IG also found that the department did not require independent third parties to perform annual firearms inventories. Nor did component field offices always promptly report lost and stolen firearms to their headquarters, or keep inventory records updated.
“The department’s management and oversight of component safeguards and controls over firearms were not effective,” the report said. “Most of the losses occurred because law enforcement officers did not sufficiently secure firearms in their possession. The lost firearms created unnecessary risk to the public and law enforcement personnel.”
In some cases, state and local law enforcement agencies recovered missing weapons from felons and known gang members, the report said.
All 179 losses may have been prevented had the officers simply properly safeguarded their firearms, the study said. For example, one officer left his firearm in the restroom of a fast food restaurant, and when he returned to retrieve it, it was gone. In another incident, a firearm left on the bumper of a vehicle fell off as the officer left his job. A civilian found the gun and turned it over to the local police.
Another 64 weapons were lost during the period due to circumstances beyond the control of DHS officers, the report said. For example, Customs and Border Protection lost firearms when Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Of these 64 weapons, 28 were lost even though officers stored them in lockboxes or safes.
To see more, go to: www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-41_Jan10.pdf.
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‘America Saves Week’ Kicks Off
The head of the Thrift Savings Plan reminded federal workers that this is “America Saves Week.” If you are a military servicemember, well, it’s also “Military Saves Week.” Both run from Feb. 21 to Feb. 28.
The events, sponsored by the Consumer Federation of America, involve over 100 organizations whose primary focus is to support and encourage individuals and families to reduce debt and build long-term wealth through saving, said Gregory Long, TSP executive director.
TSP members can visit the America Saves Web site at www.americasavesweek.org,where they will find tools—including net worth, emergency savings, and retirement calculators—as well as tips for goal-setting and help in creating a spending plan, Long said. Servicemembers can visit www.militarysaves.org to learn about programs tailored to help military members and their families.
To see more, go to: www.tsp.gov/curinfo/oc10-5.pdf.
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New Head of Veterans Health Care System Sworn In
Robert A. Petzel was sworn in as Department of Veterans Affairs under secretary for health, where he will lead the nation’s largest integrated health care system, VA announced Feb. 18.
Petzel, a physician, had been the VA’s acting principal deputy under secretary for health since May 2009. Previously, he directed one of VA’s 21 geographic health care networks covering eight medical centers and 42 community-based outpatient clinics serving vets in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, western Illinois and western Wisconsin.
Petzel has served on numerous advisory committees that guided development of new and improved health care programs, VA said. Board-certified in internal medicine, Petzel also has served previously as chief of staff for the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1850.
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