Justice Department investigators cite retaliation, conflicts at organized crime center

By Michael Doyle
McClatchy DC
Apr. 01, 2014

Justice Department investigators identify “troubling” problems with alleged retaliation and stonewalling at the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Fusion Center, in a new report.

The 63-page report made public Wednesday by Justice’s Office of Inspector General raises a litany of concerns. The investigators identified a “strained working relationship” between the center’s leadership and the FBI employees detailed to it, as well as “deficiencies” in production.

In particular, investigators concluded FBI employees detailed to the center had been retaliated against for discussing problems. Moreover, the investigators said “management took actions that created difficulties for us in obtaining information from OFC employees and in ensuring that interview responses were candid and complete.”

“Given this troubling conduct,” the investigators stated, “we cannot be sure we obtained complete information from or about the OFC or that other OFC employees may not have been deterred from coming forward and speaking candidly with us.”

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