The Washington Afro-American Newspaper

D'Amato wants probe of 'racist' marshals

By William Sherman and Daniel Goldfarb

NY Post copyrighted

Sen. Alfonse D'Amato yesterday called for an investigation of allegations of racism and discrimination in hiring practices by the U.S. Marshals Services. "The allegations should be taken serious," D'Amato said, referring to a Post expose of bigotry in the service.

The Post reported that some white deputies used Martin Luther King's picture for target practice, and said white deputies set up black deputies for beatings by prison inmates.

Mayoral candidate Rev. Al Sharpton also called for a probe, saying he was "outraged" by the allegations.

The Marshals Service yesterday denied there is "blatant racism inside" the agency. A spokesman said privacy laws bar the agency from discussing specifics of discrimination cases.

Employment figures show that of 2,141 deputy marshals and supervisors, 84 percent are white, while 15.2 are black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.

A spokesman for the Service said the agency has not met established Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines for both minorities and women, is striving to meet those guidelines, and "does not and will not tolerate discrimination against anyone."

MOYNIHAN JOINS PUSH FOR PROBE OF MARSHALS 'BIAS'

By William Sherman

NY Post March 20, 1997

Copyright protected

U.S. Sen. Daniel P. Moynihan yesterday joined a growing chorus calling for a full investigation into allegations of "wide-spread discrimination and racism in the U.S. Marshals Service.

"I find the allegations very disturbing", Moynihan said, referring to a Post probe of bigotry in the service which found, among other things, that some white deputy marshals allegedly used Martin Luther King's picture for on-duty target practice.

The Marshals Service has denied charges of racism inside the agency and a spokesman said privacy laws bar discussion of specific discrimination cases detailed by The Post.

Employment figures show that of 2,141 deputy marshals and supervisors, 85 percent are white, while 15.2 percent are black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American.

Reflecting on those figures, Tony Bullock, Sen. Moynihan's chief of staff, said: Obviously we need active outreach programs to get more minority recruits and turn those statistics around, but you can't do it overnight."

Moynihan's demand for a probe follows similar calls from U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and activist Rev. Al Sharpton.

Meanwhile, a flood of calls from Marshal Service employees to The Post continued with new allegations and reports including:

A finding by Eric Holder, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, that six deputy U.S. Marshals attended a massive June 1995 federal law-enforcement gathring that featured signs saying "Nigger Check Point." It also included the sale of "Coon Hunting Licenses", and a skit featuring a black doll pulled out of a watermelon that one cop smashed repeatedly with a baton. The all-white gathering, which attracted more than 1,400 people, is called "The Good Old Boys Roundup". It is held annually at a southeastern Tennessee campground.
That the agency routinely retaliates against black deputies who file discrimination complaints with demotions, transfers, and menial assignments designed to abruptly stop career advancement.
That the service discriminates against females in general -- white and minority -- in its hiring practices. Of 2,141 deputy marshals, 256 (11.96 percent) are female.

A spokesman for the service said the agency has failed to meet established Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines for women and minorities. He added that the agency is stirving to meet those guidelines and "does not and will not tolerate discrimination against anyone."

The 4,172 person agency is in charge of capturing federal fugitives, security at federal courthouses and the Witness Protection Program.

The Washington Afro-American Newspaper