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| BIA Plans Employee Driving Record Checks |
July 13, 2005 |
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| Wilson looks forward to BIA Review to prevent DWI’s by fed employees
Albuquerque, NM – Congresswoman Heather Wilson says today that a top Department of Interior official has pledged to find out how the BIA missed an employee’s DWI’s, and to conduct background checks on all BIA employees with access to government vehicles to make sure no other BIA employees have fallen through the cracks. The promise came after Wilson wrote to Interior Secretary Gail Norton, asking for a full briefing of the Department’s response after BIA employee Darryl Mike was arrested for driving drunk.
“The BIA has to face this problem, divulge what went wrong and correct it,” Wilson said. “New Mexicans should not have to read about another incident in our newspapers. The public should know that a real clean-driving policy is finally in place.”
Wilson’s staff received a detailed briefing from James Cason, an Associate Deputy Secretary with the Department of the Interior. Cason is in charge of the BIA until a permanent Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs is appointed by the President. Cason told Wilson’s staff that he plans to order a full review of driving records for all BIA employees with access to government vehicles. According to Cason, the BIA is also conducting an investigation to find out why Mike’s driving record—which includes at least 5 DWI’s—wasn’t caught in the hiring and screening process.
Wilson has asked the BIA to confirm whether or not supervisors at the BIA knew that the employee had a past record of DWI. Cason also said that BIA senior management is reviewing the agency’s driving policy once again.
Soon after the most recent arrest of a BIA employee Wilson told the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) that it needs to get its act together to restore public confidence that the federal agency can do its job without endangering families on New Mexico’s highways. Wilson says the BIA’s failure to prevent its employees from driving drunk is a disservice to taxpayers that could have deadly consequences.
“The recent arrest of a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employee on drunken driving charges while on duty is an appalling development that threatens the credibility of your Department with the public,” Wilson told Interior Secretary Gail Norton in her letter on June 29, 2005.
Wilson says the public was assured in 2002, after four people were killed by a drunk BIA employee, that the agency would implement new screening policies to prevent another similar tragedy.
“I don’t want any excuses,” Wilson said. “This has to be fixed, period.”
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July 12, 2005
Mr. James Cason
Associate Deputy Secretary
Department of the Interior
Washington D.C.
Dear Mr. Cason,
Thank you for briefing my Albuquerque office in response to my letter about a BIA employee accused of driving while intoxicated. I look forward to a full report from you when your review is complete.
I understand that the BIA is finding out what screening the employee in question went through. This review will determine how the BIA failed to find out that this employee had five prior DWI’s, or failed to take appropriate action if the BIA knew he had five prior DWI’s. I understand that BIA senior management is reviewing once again the driving policy for employees with access to government vehicles. I also understand that the BIA will conduct background checks on all current employees with access to government vehicles.
You and I both know that sometimes policy is set at the top and is not implemented in the field, or rules are waived by people who choose to look the other way. I want to know, in detail, the results of your investigation in this case when those results are available. In particular, I want to know whether Mike’s background was checked and whether any BIA employees knew he had a record of DWI’s. Only when we really know what went wrong can the people of New Mexico be reassured that corrective action will be effective.
I look forward to continued briefings, and a final response in writing, as the agency gets to the bottom of the problem.
Please call Julie Dreike in my Albuquerque office at 505-346-6781 with any further information you have as the BIA continues this work.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
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