James retired as an LMPD officer in 2003. Superiors that follow the good ol boy system rarely make an effort to hide their favoritism. 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. An exhaustive investigation and a full report of the Good O' Boy Roundup was important for several reasons. We were unable to establish how long this conduct lasted or how many people may have been involved in it. At our direction, DOJ components canvassed their employees to determine whether any had either attended or been invited to a Roundup or knew anyone who had. Even male attendees told us that would not have wanted any female family member or friend to attend the Roundup because of how women were treated. Many fell somewhere in between. RELATED: A councilwoman's 'road map' to equity in Louisville. Extra effort was made to take the report beyond simply a conclusion that, "It wasn't one of ours." B. 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 D. Findings Regarding Other Misconduct Many police organizations have faced this lopsided leadership option (McMillin, 1999). Satterthwaite, who has been with the department since 2012, says LMPD has a "clique like nature" that negatively affects morale in the department. When the organizers of the Roundup learned about the signs, they ordered the signs taken down. 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. Continue reading. We found no evidence that any federal law enforcement personnel appears in the photograph. They will try ordering you around, like they're in a position to do so. Many DOJ employees believe that what they do off duty is their business and not a proper concern of their employer. During the 16-year run of the Roundups, no FBI, DEA, or ATF agent, or other DOJ official reported this ingrained, flagrant, and sustained display of racism and sexism to the OIG or the U.S. Attorney General. . 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. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2012/07/cultural-change-that-sticks, Lee, A. Greater punishment could be warranted, therefore, if the behavior evidenced in this investigation is part of a pattern of documented racial insensitivity. Although the Roundup was plainly not the type of event that brings credit to its participants, we developed no evidence that any significant role was played in the Roundup by any DOJ personnel past or present. Thus, whether intended or not, the Roundup was in fact predominantly a gathering of whites. This group of participants affiliated with DOJ constitutes approximately three percent of the estimated total number of attendees at the sixteen Roundups. As we have noted, we are forwarding information to the Director of the FBI for consideration of discipline against an FBI Share. For a period of time substantial effort was made to see who could be the most vile and disgusting. 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. The good ol' sheriff - Washington Post All told, our investigation took into account the statements of nearly 900 witnesses, including 560 who attended a Roundup. Remarkably, we found no one in attendance who appeared to be offended by such activity or who sought to curb it. In 1992 and 1993, Richard Hayward brought to the Roundup David Duke for President campaign literature and souvenirs, and materials publicizing the National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP), a pro-Duke organization whose Michigan chapter Hayward had founded. Brian earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from California State, Sacramento and has a MS in Organizational Leadership from National University. We also found no evidence that any DOJ employees attended the Roundup without taking appropriate leave. We discovered, however, a huge gap between these policies, on the one hand, and actual attendance at and perceptions about the event, on the other. As long as theres still a working relationship, rivalries between units are fine. Favoritism, Cronyism, and Nepotism - Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Because he was not shot, George Floyd will not be included in The Washington Post 's compilation of law enforcement homicides from officer-involved shootings. CAIRO, Ga. It was Election Day in Grady County, and Sheriff Harry Young, 76, had hardly slept three hours the night before. Our initial task was to identify DOJ employees who attended any of the Roundups. Also the more difficult it is to prove yourself. Immediately after the skit, Rightmyer publicly criticized its participants but took no other action, such as ejecting them from the Roundup. Creativity Inc: Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration. T.K. C. Findings Regarding General Allegations of Racist Good O' Boy Roundup Report Executive Summary - United States Department The OIG Investigation Arrests Are Plummeting. Rightmyer was interviewed by OIG twice, including an all day on-the-record interview in the latter stages of the investigation. In the early years a contest called the Beer Enduro took place, requiring participants to drink a specified quantity of beer at regular intervals. Old boy network - Wikipedia His component, however, must assess this conduct in light of the employee's history. In their affidavits to the Senate, the two Ocoee women claimed to have heard that a woman was gang-raped by a large number of Roundup participants. Maintain a fair and consistent workplace; employees who feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully are less likely to complain or sue. We could not escape making judgments concerning their credibility. 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. We also coordinated with a number of other law enforcement agencies that were conducting investigations into participation by their own personnel in the Roundup, most notably the Department of Treasury Office of the Inspector General (Treasury OIG). These invitations were distributed to law enforcement agencies in the Southeast, where they were posted on bulletin boards, announced generally, or handed out to those who were interested. 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. -- a particular responsibility of the Department of Justice. 2) examine the existing standards of conduct that apply to the off-duty behavior of DOJ law enforcement components, and provide further guidance for what constitutes conduct that brings the Department or one of its agencies into disrepute; 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. 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. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations prohibit federal employees from engaging in "criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct prejudicial to the government." In the lawsuit, he says he applied for multiple positions within the department, but believes he was scored unfairly and was denied access to his interview files so he could review the decision. 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. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is very clear. Retrieved from,https://qz.com/196273/how-to-break-up-the-old-boys-club-in-your-office/, McMillin, J. Insular environments are also the breeding ground of fear-based cultures. The American Civil Service Act was passed in 1883 in large part because so many patronage jobs, down to dogcatcher, were being filled by people whose only qualification for employment was their support for a particular party or candidate. Based on our review of the statements of over 150 attendees at the 1989 Roundup and our credibility determinations regarding the various witnesses, we concluded that no racist sign or effigy was displayed at the registration desk for any portion of the 1989 Roundup and that the claim that ATF agents were "checking cars for niggers," although similar to conduct reported in other years, is unsubstantiated. Lieutenant Ellis has worked in a number of specialized assignments including with the Problem Oriented Policing Unit, Parole Intervention and Career Criminal Apprehension Teams, Narcotics and Robbery/Burglary divisions. The 9News Investigators found records of two paychecks made out to Jimmy Jones after his resignation date of April 28, 2015. We were unable to establish how long this conduct lasted or how many people may have been involved in it. This fact contributed substantially to the degeneration of the Roundup over the years from an innocuous open-air camping and recreational gathering into a playground for large numbers of the drunk, tasteless, and immature. Mired in tradition, the 'good ol' boys club' mentality keeps us moving backward and prevents us from being respected for the job we do Dec 30, 2014 We are rapidly heading into 2015. OIG also found insufficient evidence to conclude that a racist sign was displayed in any part of the campground during the 1989 Roundup. Simply put: If someone does something wrong, their ass is grass. Nepotism is an even narrower form of favoritism. 'Good ole boy system': LMPD officer files lawsuit accusing department of bias, discrimination. Hayward also brought a large David Duke for President banner to hang in the campground, but it was up only briefly before Roundup organizers ordered that it be taken down. 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. [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. Why this hurts us 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. Our investigative and interviewing strategy was designed to get beyond potentially self-serving accounts. Substantiated Allegations Thus, whether intended or not, the Roundup was in fact predominantly a gathering of whites. But before we get into specifics, lets Every day, young men and women walk into Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! 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 1992, T-shirts with a pocket drawn on the upper left of the shirt, a drawing of the head of the character Buckwheat from the old television show "Little Rascals," and the words "Good Ole Boys '92" written on the pocket were offered for sale by some unidentified person or persons. Decertification means Handley is forbidden from working in law enforcement anywhere in the state . In 1995, T-shirts with a crude drawing of the figure used in the children's game, "Hangman," and the initials "O" and "J" beneath the figure were sold by two officers from Fort Lauderdale. 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. The signs were removed and destroyed. Satterthwaite says he and Chief Chavous uncovered several issues of discrimination and bias within the department that, he says, mirror the results of the Hillard Heintz internal investigation. Stallard, M. (2007). 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. We could not escape making judgments concerning their credibility. The initial allegations of racist conduct were made in an article in the Washington Times on July 11. On two occasions the Redneck of the Year contest contained blatantly racist material. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications. Racist signs were posted in at least two years: 1990 and 1992. In July 1995, national attention focused suddenly on an annual private gathering in southeastern Tennessee known as the "Good O' Boy Roundup" (Roundup). Understanding the Dark Side of Leadership - Law Enforcement Today 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. He also alleged that ATF agents surrounded cars entering the campground and shouted, "Got any niggers in that car?" (Subsequently, the FBI concluded that Hayward's video taken at the 1990 Roundup was authentic and had not been altered.). It makes the job undesirable to those who could very likely possess the skills and training to become an asset. I look around from time to time and never cease to be amazed at how little social progress we have actually made. But by failing to eject or punish any of the people known to have engaged in the misconduct, the Roundup organizers failed to deliver a strong, unequivocal message that racist conduct would not be tolerated. 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. f) T-shirts 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. Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow. When he believed that OIG intended to seek court enforcement of the subpoena he publicly threatened bloodshed. Archived | Perspectives on Civil Protective Orders in Domestic Violence In 1995, one current and three retired Fort Lauderdale police officers confronted a white ATF agent who had come to the Roundup with two black law enforcement officers. The official activities of the Roundup were centered on athletic events, drinking, and what were intended to be humorous performances by participants vying for such titles as Redneck of the Year. Racist skits were performed in 1990 and 1992. The banner was thrown in the trash. We also found substantial credible evidence of racially insensitive conduct in 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1993. OIG believes further that employees bring disrepute to the Department and adversely affect their ability to perform their law enforcement mission if they knowingly attend an event whose purpose is to encourage or promote racist activity. Collaborative environments are incubators for good ideas to occur. We found substantial evidence that the campground was a hostile environment for women especially in the later years of the Roundup. The largest number of DOJ employees in attendance in any given year was eleven, a level reached twice, once out of approximately 400 attendees in 1986 and then again out of 520 attendees in 1994. T-shirts were sold at the Roundup that were found to be racially insensitive. He refused to comply with any aspect of this subpoena. Download the WHAS11 News app now. Here's what I am working up to: it's been mentioned in many articles. Lake County sheriff: DOJ grant will help department further move away 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. 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. RELATED: 'We have another study that tells us what we already know' | Black Louisvillians react to LMPD review. It begs the question of how important relationships are in the advancement of people within an organization, and how do great organizations find the balance of personal relationships? 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. Third, executives should be thinking about strategic succession planning rather than waiting for retirements to occur and making picks in the moment. Rightmyer also announced generally that everyone in law enforcement was welcome at the Roundup, and those who disagreed should leave. The other women who were baring their breasts were consensual sex partners for single and married agents. Personal written invitations were sent only to those who had previously registered for a Roundup. All rights reserved. OIG investigated each of these claims as well, most of which were initially contained in affidavits of two women submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee in July. How the 'good ol' boys club' mentality hurts us - Corrections1 Letting friends or inner-circles have a lack of accountability does not help mobilize the workforce in our heaviest lift yet- sustaining an above-average service during every contact we make. We believe we have developed a fair and accurate picture of what occurred. These leaders would vehemently agree that their peers and superiors who exhibit obvious favoritism are in the wrong and are, frankly, undeserving of their position. Other attendees intervened and broke up the confrontation. He contended that racist signs and an effigy of a black person were displayed at the registration desk for the entire Roundup. We found substantial evidence that strippers performed at the campground year after year beginning around 1988. In insular environments, when ambiguous issues arise in meetings, there is a lack of questions that limit learning and understanding. Although we heard conflicting views as to whether this conduct was intended to send a benign message of "Southern heritage" or a message of racism and intolerance, especially towards African Americans, we conclude that such displays had the effect, whether intended or not, of adding to a racially charged and hostile environment. Georgia sheriffs supporting Gov. . Rightmyer also announced generally that everyone in law enforcement was welcome at the Roundup, and those who disagreed should leave. He was going for another term, his fifth, and as the . In addition, because our evaluation of DOJ employee conduct required the fullest and most accurate reconstruction possible of what had actually occurred at the Roundup, we sought to identify as many attendees of the various Roundups as we could. They are here you know. When several months later OIG requested that he submit to an interview on a range of topics including his supposed discovery of a "nigger hunting license" at the 1995 Roundup or the militia plan "Operation Achilles Heel," whose stated goal was to discredit ATF, Randall refused and renewed these threats in more graphic terms. Copyright 2023 When the conduct was brought to the attention of Roundup organizers it was criticized and terminated. "We are proud of the support we have from Democrat and Republican sheriffs. Another aspect of this system affects promotions and post assignments. 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. 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. So, unconsciously we end up testing them, and closely evaluating their every move. 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. In addition, because our evaluation of DOJ employee conduct required the fullest and most accurate reconstruction possible of what had actually occurred at the Roundup, we sought to identify as many attendees of the various Roundups as we could. When these allegations were first made public, the public criticism was broad and harsh. Friends and family can usually be counted on for loyalty, and officeholders are in a good position to know their strengths. The term originally referred to social and business connections among former pupils of male-only elite . We determined, however, that because the Roundup campground was not isolated or well-secured, it was ill-suited for secretive racist gatherings. On July 11, 1995, the Washington Times blew the whistle on this annual racist Roundup of law enforcement agents and their invited guests. All rights reserved. An important part of the climate was established by the availability of unlimited amounts of alcohol. And in many cases, DOJ employees acted as one would hope they would -- they saw an event marked by excessive alcohol consumption and puerile behavior and never returned. Roundup's Racism in the Law enforcement Community Never Died. "A 'good ole' boy' network refers to an informal system where white men of a similar background use their influence for their mutual benefit (and often to the detriment of those who are not part of the 'good ole' boy' network)." . 1980-95, we conclude that the Roundup was not, as it was portrayed in the media stories, a "Klan rally," an intentionally "whites-only" racist gathering, or a haven for criminal conduct. I'm always going to. Although Rightmyer again criticized the officer who performed this skit, he took no other action. 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. Hayward was told he could not enter the campground unless all of these materials were removed. Ultimately, the purported eyewitness recanted his claim. . 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. We are rapidly heading into 2015. When friendships or subjective issues are focal points of promotions it sends an organizational message that the pathway for advancement is not working hard. Half of the DOJ participants did not go to any Roundups after 1988 -- a significant fact because no egregious racist misconduct was alleged to have occurred prior to 1989. We discovered, however, a huge gap between these policies, on the one hand, and actual attendance at and perceptions about the event, on the other. For 1995, Randall contended that "nigger hunting licenses" were openly available on the Roundup campground. . First, the allegations of racist conduct contained in the initial media accounts and Congressional testimony were truly shocking. 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. 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. But the inquiry is, by necessity, highly fact-specific.
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