Most people define the Good Ole Boy System as "people who use or gain special treatment with job assignments and promotions because of the relationship they have with others.". And no DOJ employee was ever elected to be president or vice-president of the Roundup. Although we conclude that much of the early Roundup news coverage was overblown and distorted, our investigation revealed ample evidence of shocking racist, licentious, and puerile behavior by attendees occurring in various years. Finally in October he relinquished the videotape for analysis by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and agreed to an on-the-record interview. GEORGIA- Stacey Abrams, the Invisalign and NutriSystem poster child who still thinks she's the governor of Georgia has a pretty funny way of reaching out to law enforcement officers. He left the Roundup a few hours later. . Hayward also brought some bumper stickers and hats to sell, without much success. The accounts of nudity reported to us included men on their way to and from the showers, women dancers, women baring their chests, a retired officer exposing himself with his badge displayed on his penis, people pulling trousers off other attendees, and other similar behavior. His component, however, must assess this conduct in light of the employee's history. Because of the historical connections between similar sites and racist activities, these agents attributed racist intentions to the Roundup due simply to its location. 2. It has become the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for correctional professionals nationwide. T-shirts were sold at the Roundup that were found to be racially insensitive. 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. Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. The display of the Confederate flag is a controversial matter. 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. We are not aware of any effort that was made to establish who posted the signs. 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. These good ole boys clubs have a range of consequences in the business world . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson. Police organizations in particular are always on an uphill march and need every person to be on the winning team for the progress that needs to take place. Public officials should also note that dilemmas involving favoritism extend beyond hiring and contracting practices to the more general problem of influence. When there are divisions within a single unit because someone doesnt like that guy for something personal, the unit has a serious problem. In 2002, a survey from the federal government's Office of Personnel Management found that only 36.1 percent of federal workers thought promotions in their work units were based on merit. You're skipping over experienced and educated applicants for a buddy. In 1992 and 1993, Hayward openly distributed former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke's presidential campaign literature and souvenirs, as well as materials publicizing the National Association for the Advancement of White People. Indeed, by 1990, law enforcement officers -- federal, state, and local -- were outnumbered by participants who had no such affiliation. The only identifying information we received was that an unspecified person from Ohio and another from Mississippi possessed one of these tapes. In response to a request of the Deputy Attorney General, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether any Department of Justice (DOJ) employees had attended the Roundup and, if so, whether they engaged in or approved of racial, criminal, or other kinds of misconduct at any of the sixteen Roundups from 1980 through 1995. RELATED: A councilwoman's 'road map' to equity in Louisville. What ethical dilemmas do favoritism, cronyism, and nepotism present? Sometime after the confrontation some unidentified persons painted the words "niggers go home" and "whites only" on toilets in the campground. Through these efforts, OIG identified nearly 1400 persons who attended the Roundup between 1980 and 1995. After the transition, Satterthwaite alleges that he was directed to change his focus from making cultural changes within the department to recruiting more Black officers from the community. In addition, we found that because the central activity during most Roundups was the consumption of large quantities of Roundup-supplied alcohol, the organizers knowingly sacrificed the ability to control the conduct of participants. Findings Regarding Specific Racist Misconduct Some minority agents also expressed a reluctance to attend because the Roundup was held in the woods of an all-white county in Eastern Tennessee. Over 900 people were interviewed and statementized in connection with the OIG investigation. And no DOJ employee was ever elected to be president or vice-president of the Roundup. He also claims the department violated his First Amendment rights. ", 5. We encountered numerous witnesses who were unable to supply very much information, particularly those who attended a Roundup in its earliest years. The accounts of nudity reported to us included men on their way to and from the showers, women dancers, women baring their chests, a retired officer exposing himself with his badge displayed on his penis, people pulling trousers off other attendees, and other similar behavior. The department was one of nine law enforcement agencies in Michigan to receive such an award in the latest grant cycle. . Instead we have racism, nepotism, favoritism, and few other ism's. The Report documented widespread federal, state, and local law enforcement abuse of black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other civil rights activists who protested in the 1950s, 60s and 70s for equal rights, fair justice, and voting rights in America. Lexipol. identifies important training information, interacts with each other and READ MORE: UNDERSTANDING THE DARK SIDE OF LEADERSHIP PART III. It makes the job undesirable to those who could very likely possess the skills and training to become an asset. agent and to the applicable Department of Treasury component for one of its employees who used to be employed by DOJ. Our investigation found that DOJ employees played a minor role in the official activities and organization of the Roundup. Although in earlier years we found efforts by Rightmyer to ensure that women were treated appropriately and these women reported no problems, we found little evidence of concern in the later years when the objectionable conduct became pervasive. And everyone can point to instances where cronyism or nepotism is an accepted fact of life in political sphere, as well. Cultural change that sticks.Harvard Business Review. For a period of time substantial effort was made to see who could be the most vile and disgusting. When groupthink is present, big ideas get pushed down, shunned, or worst never shared with the group in the first place. For the 1990 incidents we found no evidence that any Roundup leaders were notified or were aware of such conduct or that any action was taken to stop these persons. When the persons in the registration area observed the sign, it was removed. Blaming these people for the sins of others would have been unfair. In numerous years, Confederate flags were displayed in various locations in and around the Roundup campground. 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. In one photo, a group surrounding the flag are shown making obscene gestures and raising their fists in a Nazi salute. 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. Both nepotism and cronyism are often at work when political parties recruit candidates for public office. We found no evidence that any federal law enforcement personnel appears in the photograph. I, personally, served under them and would gladly fall on a sword if they asked even all these years later. Taunting the ATF agent about the presence of the two blacks, one of the Fort Lauderdale officers stated, "ATF fucks up everything they touch. 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. A so called "merit-based" promotion policy or system is nothing but another way to make it sound like management is promoting based on merit, when they're actually just putting up a smokescreen to disguise their need to circumvent civil service rules to put their boys into positions they're too . In 1993, Hayward arrived at the campground with his car plastered with racially offensive and political materials. Rules are paramount to maintaining order and uniformity in the military. The women dancers were strippers. They will try ordering you around, like they're in a position to do so. However, in an investigation that examined events occurring over a sixteen-year period and involving well in excess of 1,000 participants, we cannot be sure that we have uncovered every objectionable incident. 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 chase off and scare off new officers before they can grasp even the basics of our profession. 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. Creativity Inc: Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration. Youre seeing that problem right now with [FBI Director] Andy McCabe and the people there that moved up there and moved around quite fast, as opposed to having any female people, criminal investigators in those top ranks, she continued. 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. Based on the number of convictions for violating federal corruption laws, Mississippi a state with just three million citizens ranks at the very top of the . 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. by Bob Adelmann June 23, 2014. I can see and understand how the system would come into practice. Randall was even less cooperative, refusing to answer more than a few basic questions in the presence of other militia members in late July and refusing our requests for a subsequent interview. Our investigation established that DOJ employees had quite diverse experiences at the Roundup. 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. 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 preponderance of the evidence suggested that local police officers from Florence and Boone County, Kentucky, were responsible for posting these signs. We found no evidence that the invitations to the Roundup, either written or oral, made explicit references or even allusions to racial restrictions on attendance or that racist activities were available or welcome at the event. 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. When they play second fiddle to keeping your superiors personally happy, somethings wrong. Stallard, M. (2007). Racist skits were performed in 1990 and 1992. 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. For 1995, Randall contended that "nigger hunting licenses" were openly available on the Roundup campground. 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. 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. Each of these persons identified the same woman as the alleged rape victim. In 1993, Hayward arrived at the campground with his car plastered with racially offensive and political materials. 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. It is the 21st century. The OIG report contains a summary of our findings with respect to these and all other DOJ employees who attended. WHAS11 talked to two retired LMPD officers who are African Americans. On two occasions the Redneck of the Year contest contained blatantly racist material. All troops arent always going to get along. We have been on the . In addition to Hayward, two other witnesses had vague and indeterminate recollections of some type of racist sign being posted in the campground for a short time in 1989. 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. Under applicable precedents, DOJ employees could be punished if they were found to have directly engaged in racist acts even while off duty. To complicate issues even more, when groupthink is rampant, police organizations begin relying on successful implementations from the past that may no longer be relevant or produce the greatest yield for the department; but because it worked before, it stands to reason that it should be an acceptable means for today. On two occasions the Redneck of the Year contest contained blatantly racist material. "The days of the 'good ole boy' system are over where we now need to . A future Roundup president and Hayward can be readily identified. Extremely gratifying reveal of the "good ole boy " system coming to light in this cold, calculating, criminal murder #Murdaugh trial. In reality, the clothes do not exist, and although swindled, the emperor himself does not admit he cannot see them, because he doesnt want to be seen as unwise. Continue reading. Other than one inappropriate comment by one FBI agent, we found no evidence that any DOJ employee engaged in racist or other misconduct while at the Roundup. Hayward was told he could not enter the campground unless all of these materials were removed. Cronyism is a more specific form of favoritism, referring to partiality towards friends and associates. 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. But, when two groups of good ol boys butt heads, everyone else now needs to play along with their stupid game no matter how petty. One of the Senate affiants alleged that during the 1990 Roundup a "drug enforcement officer" offered her some unspecified drugs in Grumpy's, a bar adjacent to the campground that was frequented by many Roundup attendees. That same day several of the Fort Lauderdale officers left the Roundup. A. DOJ Participation How to break up the old boys club in your office. 4 opportunities to get the organization out of the club: Applicability to policing. 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. 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. Finally, public nudity was commonplace at various Roundups. In the lawsuit, Officer Philip Satterthwaite claims that LMPD officials promoted friends and family members over better-qualified candidates. Verifying the allegations, therefore, required assessing the accuracy and reliability of testimony given by witnesses. (1999). Intent and a "Whites-only" Policy. 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. DOJ regulations also prohibit employees from engaging in "disrespectful conduct." 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.