Air Marshals / LEOs
06-07-2006, 06:06 PM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 23
Air Marshals / LEOs
As reported by the Denver Local News:
DENVER -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, federal air marshals have been traveling on thousands of flights. Their job is to track suspected terrorists and deter anyone who might try to highjack a plane. But some marshals are concerned about what happened when one of their bosses was reported sleeping on a flight.
The concern is about the agent in charge of the Denver office, Tony Hedges. According to a former senior United flight attendant, Hedges, who was carrying a gun, was sleeping on a flight to Washington, D.C., which makes him vulnerable to being disarmed.
The flight attendant informed authorities, but federal officials never investigated.
Airline and federal sources say the incident occurred on an early-morning United flight in March 2004.
Hedges was sitting in a middle seat near the center of the plane. He was armed, but not working the flight.
Two other working air marshals were in the front of the plane. The head flight attendant on the plane noticed that Hedges was sleeping and went forward to tell the other marshals.
The e-mail sent by the head flight attendant said, "Since we require a visual of all (persons carrying firearms aboard) I purposely check on them during the flight. ... If (you're) carrying a firearm, shouldn't you be aware of the environment around you at all times?"
The senior flight attendant, part of the Attendant's Safety and Security Group, was so concerned about the issue that the attendant sent the e-mail to contacts at the Denver Air Marshal's Office.
Sources there told 7NEWS that the incident was reported to a supervisor, but apparently, it went no further.
Hedges called the incident "a cockamamy lie."
But later, a spokesman in Washington said the agency was not aware of the incident and said it will be fully investigated. The spokesman said any agent traveling with a gun on an airplane must be in control of the weapon at all times and said Hedges claimed that he was in control.
In any case, there was no investigation and this is an example of what many agents in Denver's air marshal's office claim is the double standard for managers and contributes to poor morale.
Wow.
DENVER -- Since Sept. 11, 2001, federal air marshals have been traveling on thousands of flights. Their job is to track suspected terrorists and deter anyone who might try to highjack a plane. But some marshals are concerned about what happened when one of their bosses was reported sleeping on a flight.
The concern is about the agent in charge of the Denver office, Tony Hedges. According to a former senior United flight attendant, Hedges, who was carrying a gun, was sleeping on a flight to Washington, D.C., which makes him vulnerable to being disarmed.
The flight attendant informed authorities, but federal officials never investigated.
Airline and federal sources say the incident occurred on an early-morning United flight in March 2004.
Hedges was sitting in a middle seat near the center of the plane. He was armed, but not working the flight.
Two other working air marshals were in the front of the plane. The head flight attendant on the plane noticed that Hedges was sleeping and went forward to tell the other marshals.
The e-mail sent by the head flight attendant said, "Since we require a visual of all (persons carrying firearms aboard) I purposely check on them during the flight. ... If (you're) carrying a firearm, shouldn't you be aware of the environment around you at all times?"
The senior flight attendant, part of the Attendant's Safety and Security Group, was so concerned about the issue that the attendant sent the e-mail to contacts at the Denver Air Marshal's Office.
Sources there told 7NEWS that the incident was reported to a supervisor, but apparently, it went no further.
Hedges called the incident "a cockamamy lie."
But later, a spokesman in Washington said the agency was not aware of the incident and said it will be fully investigated. The spokesman said any agent traveling with a gun on an airplane must be in control of the weapon at all times and said Hedges claimed that he was in control.
In any case, there was no investigation and this is an example of what many agents in Denver's air marshal's office claim is the double standard for managers and contributes to poor morale.
Wow.
06-15-2006, 06:03 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by Slice
I think everyone needs to take a deep breath here. We all know that FA's are always right as is the news media. 
Nevertheless, this is just another fine example of a fine government employee abusing the system. Sad.
06-15-2006, 06:18 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,576
Originally Posted by surreal1221
Our government isn't always as truthful either.
Nevertheless, this is just another fine example of a fine government employee abusing the system. Sad.
Nevertheless, this is just another fine example of a fine government employee abusing the system. Sad.
06-15-2006, 06:31 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by surreal1221
Our government isn't always as truthful either.
Nevertheless, this is just another fine example of a fine government employee abusing the system. Sad.
Nevertheless, this is just another fine example of a fine government employee abusing the system. Sad.
06-15-2006, 06:50 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 903
Originally Posted by Slice
So, you're one of those, eh? Watch out for the black helicopters!
Where's my tin hat
Originally Posted by Ottopilot
What abuse? He's traveling, not working. He has no law enforcement duties to do. Sleep away.
Last edited by surreal1221; 06-15-2006 at 06:52 PM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
