TIMBER THEFT AGENTS WEREN’T
ANGELS
Dear HCN,
HCN appears to
be quite concerned about the Forest Service’s Timber Theft Task
Force, especially since it has been disbanded (HCN, 4/3/95).
As you well know, there are corrupt people in
all walks of life and disciplines, and the task force is no
exception. Judging from my experience with the Forest Service in
California, there are some excellent law enforcement officers and
special agents who deserve the utmost respect. On the other hand,
some of the most corrupt people I know of within the Forest Service
are agents and law enforcement officers, some of whom were involved
with the Timber Theft Task Force.
When you hear
individual whining coming from former task force members, keep in
mind that some of the agents have sordid pasts they will go to any
length to keep covered up.
I do not agree with
the Forest Service’s new “stovepipe” law enforcement organization,
by which agents bypass regional chiefs and report directly to law
enforcement officers in Washington, D.C., instead. That’s why I
gave up my Forest Service gun.
With the new
stovepipe structure, law enforcement has its own budget allocated
from the Washington office. Now there are few, if any, ways for the
rest of the Forest Service to check and balance law enforcement
spending. I truly think this was the intent of the folks
establishing the stovepipe structure in the first place.
I’d like to think the Timber Theft Task Force
made a difference. I’m skeptical, however. Considering the amount
of money spent (several million taxpayer dollars) and the time
invested, it seems more should have been
accomplished.
Mary
Furney
Camptonville,
California
Mary Furney is a
recreation supervisor for the Forest Service in California (Region
5) and a former law enforcement
officer.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Timber theft agents weren’t angels.
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