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The primary issue is that many of the U.S. Marshals who come into
the job do so because of connections rather than law enforcement
experience. That means that more support staff are needed to
cover for some inexperience and weaknesses. Making the
position a career position, chosen through merit and advancement,
would save a substantial amount of taxpayer money and make the
management of the Marshals Service more efficient.
Although there is a national Director of the Marshals Service,
located in Arlington, VA, only the President can authorize
disciplinary action against a Marshal, which effectively undercuts
the director's leadership. In addition, the position of Chief
Deputy Marshal, which is a career position, becomes crucial
for continuity in that district's law enforcement. In other
words, the second highest position has more practical responsibility
than does the highest position, and the Chief Deputy Marshal may
have to report to an inexperienced leader.
Roger Ray has been in both positions. He ultimately served
as a U.S. Marshal, and when his turn came to be replaced during the
reign of a new president, he argued for reform. However, in
retrospect, he does see the advantages of getting new qualified
individuals into these positions and feels the president should
continue to appoint the U.S. Marshals as they have over the past two
centuries.
Yet many disagree, most notably, they say, because a law
enforcement system should not operate by political favors.
Historian Frederick Calhoun agrees. "The Service remained
too politicized. The presidential appointment of the U.S.
Marshals haunted the organization. It could never escape the
taint of politics as long as its top district managers owed their
appointments to political favors, not professional
advancement."
Since the top position is transient, the Chief Deputy Marshal's
allegiances are of necessity somewhat tenuous. That hardly
supports the camaraderie needed for many of the tasks these officers
perform.
Senator Thurmond calls the current organization inefficient and
structurally unsound and the inherent limitations in power of the
director's position means that the agency is loosely organized at
best. Legislation to make the changes had passed the House of
Representatives in 1997 but not the Senate. Thurmond hopes to
bring it back to the floor and make the change effective for the new
presidential term that begins in 2005.
"It is time," he writes," that we professionalized
one of our most important law enforcement agencies."
Whether or not he's successful, it won't change the fact that the
U.S. Marshals have been and will continue to be a fundamental part
of American history.
Among the many duties performed by the Marshals, perhaps hunting
down fugitives gets the most attention. Let's look at how the
special task force successfully developed and closed a case.
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