Page 24 - Customs Today Winter1984-OCR

Through independent and objective The program mission of Internal tolerate nothing less. Secondly, he should
inquiry and reporting, the investigative, Security is responsive to—and closely establish and maintain adequate internal
audit and management inspection disci mirrors—the enforcement initiatives of controls. That is, a system of checks and
plines work together to identify corrup the Customs Service, and proactive balances and a practice of periodic per
tion, fraud, misconduct and mismanage investigations have been conducted or sonnel rotation which insures that
ment. will be developed in the areas of drug employees are not subjected to unneces
enforcement, commercial fraud, curren sary temptations and do not, over a
The Internal Security Function
cy, and critical technology. period of time, become too comfortable
The Office of Internal Security A trend of growing concern is the with their counterparts in the private sec
conducts investigations based on allega number of integrity investigations being tor. Thirdly, he should be responsive to
tions or suspicions of criminal activity or conducted in the area of drug enforce the findings and recommendations con
misconduct under criminal laws or ment. This, by its very nature, brings tained in Management Inspection and
Department-administered rules and reg our officers into contact with powerful Internal Audit reports.
ulations. When sufficient evidence exists and organized criminal elements with Managers are expected to take an
to support the allegations, the Office of large amounts of illegally obtained active role in establishing procedures and
Internal Affairs presents the case to the money. an atmosphere conducive to the develop
U.S. Attorney or local law enforcement Since Internal Security resources are ment and enhancement of integrity
agency for possible prosecution. When strained to accomplish its criminal in within Customs. Managers and super
prosecution is not warranted or is de vestigative function, whenever possible, visors, in addition to setting examples by
clined, matters are referred to Customs managers are encouraged to make ad their own honesty, have a very important
ministrative inquiries and to deal with
managers for administrative action. role in maintaining the integrity of opera
Internal Security responsibilities in less serious disciplinary matters without tions and individuals under their control,
clude the following principle functions: involving Internal Affairs. For example, and minimizing any resulting tempta
• Investigations of complaints or in time and attendance matters, disciplinary tions as much as possible. In analyzing
formation indicating criminal acts, viola problems, travel vouchers, etc., are all many investigative reports, Internal
tions of Service Regulations and other matters that fall within basic manage Security has determined that a number of
improprieties on the part of current and ment and supervisory responsibilities. serious integrity lapses have occurred
former employees. Approximately 250 integrity investi because of managerial deficiencies which,
• Investigations of persons outside gations are performed annually, resulting because of improper supervision, have
the Service where their actions involve in about 60, arrests of employees and afforded employees the opportunity to go
corruption of, or attempts to corrupt or civilians fpr a variety of integrity astray or be corrupted.
breaches^ft should be noted that em
improperly influence Service employees. Corruption, accepting gratuities,
• Investigations of personnel in ployees are cleared of all allegations in mismanagement or failure to perform
volved in certain other Treasury Inspec many investigations, which indicates In assigned duties properly can be insidious,
tor General referrals; and special in ternal Security's commitment to objec and grow larger in any organization. The
vestigations, studies or inquiries when re tively discover the facts in each situation. responsibility to prevent or report occur
quested by the Office of the Secretary of Additionally, approximately 1,200 full rences early to Internal Affairs is yours,
the Treasury, the Commissioner or other field background investigations are proc and yours alone, thereby keeping the
senior officials. essed annually. All new Customs em Customs Service a proud tradition. The
We have three criteria which we ployees receive National Agency Checks caller is afforded complete confidentiality
utilize in making the decision to open an (NAC) for employment screening, and by dialing the Internal Affairs Hodine at
investigation. First, the matter or allega all individuals in sensitive positions FTS 566-2220. This number allows the
tion must be serious. Secondly, there receive full field background investiga caller to make Internal Affairs aware of
must be some fact or issue in dispute. tions. Based upon the actual classified criminal misconduct, fraud, waste and
And finally, there must be an avenue of materials handled and the need to know abuse through a 24-hour taped telephone
investigation open to pursue. What is fre- classified information, security clearances message.
quendy misunderstood is that the inter are issued based upon a clear full field
nal security role is only investigative. The background investigation. The Internal Audit Function
facts of a particular situation are reported The Office of Internal Security has The Internal Audit activity is opera
to Customs managers and/or supervisors oversight responsibility for establishing tional in the seven regional cities in addi
who have the ultimate responsibility for procedures and ensuring the protection tion to Headquarters. It is responsible for
of national security classified materials.
any action taken. On occasion, a dis auditing Customs programs and activi
honest person may seek to gain by at Internal Security agents perform surprise ties and providing management with
tempting to bribe or otherwise corrupt an inspections of classified material con reports of their findings. These reports
employee to commit crimes against the tainers and facilities, and engage in train are used to document the fact that man
United States Government. If a prospec ing seminars for Customs employees who agement's policies and procedures are
tive employee has established an integrity will handle such materials. being carried out as expected, to state an
pattern below the high standards de While there is no certain way of pre opinion on the accuracy and fairness of
manded of Service employees, or if an venting isolated instances of misconduct, financial records, and to alert manage
there are several important things that a
employee is vulnerable to temptations or ment to the possible need for taking cor
tries to defraud the revenue, the reputa manager can do to reduce the likelihood rective actions to improve operations that
tion and integrity of the entire Service, as of serious problems. First, through his are not meeting expectations. In addi
well as his own, is in jeopardy. For this personal conduct and attention to tion, the Office of Internal Audit and its
reason, the work of the Internal Security integrity-related matters, he must send field counterparts conduct special audits,
out a clear and consistent message that he
agent involves as much "prevention" as such as pre-award contract audits, to help
expects the utmost in integrity and will managers decide the most effective use of
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