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| Wilson: BIA Needs to Get Act Together |
June 29, 2005 |
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| Lawmaker asks for Interior Secretary action
Albuquerque, NM – Congresswoman Heather Wilson says the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) needs to get its act together and 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 with 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.
Wilson requested a briefing from Department of Interior officials, detailing how a man with a clear record of driving drunk was allowed behind the wheel of a federal emergency vehicle. Her request came today in a letter to Secretary Gail Norton, head of the Department of the Interior which oversees the BIA. Agency staff told Wilson’s office today that the BIA employee was hired by another federal agency in an interagency arrangement. The employee, Darryl Mike, 42, works for the National Interagency Fire Center, but is officially a BIA employee. Wilson’s office was told today that Mike was hired by the BLM, acting as the “servicing personnel office” for the Interagency Center.
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 about people ‘falling through the cracks’, Wilson said. “This has to be fixed, period.”
Wilson told Secretary Norton she’d like a detailed explanation from BIA officials about how a man with a clear record of driving drunk was allowed behind the wheel of a BIA emergency vehicle, and how that federal agency will ensure this does not happen again.
“The BIA and, perhaps, the BLM, must take steps to restore public confidence that it can fulfill its mission while not endangering New Mexicans on our highways,” Wilson told Norton.
Below: Wilson letter to Sec. Norton
June 29, 2005
The Honorable Gale A. Norton
Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C. Street N.W.
Washington, DC
Dear Secretary Norton,
The recent arrest of a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employee on drunken driving charges threatens the credibility of the BIA with the public. I have no doubt you agree it’s a disservice to New Mexicans—and one that can have deadly consequences.
I would like to be briefed on actions the BIA and the Department of the Interior will take to ensure this doesn’t happen again. From conversations my staff has had with the BLM, the BIA, and the National Interagency Fire Center, the background check on this employee may have “fallen through the cracks.” I know you will agree that this is unacceptable.
After the tragedy in January 2002 that resulted in the deaths of four people at the hands of a BIA employee in a BIA vehicle, the BIA touted new measures to make sure that people with histories of DWI offenses can’t drive BIA vehicles. It is clear from this most recent case that these new screening policies failed to prevent a person with a history of DWI offenses from getting behind the wheel of a BIA vehicle.
New Mexico is facing our drunk driving problem head on with tougher measures meant to prevent people from endangering lives on our highways. Federal employees should serve as role models, not as examples of the problem. While most federal employees serve taxpayers with distinction, developments like these create a caricature of irresponsible federal employees who abuse the public trust.
Secretary Norton, I would appreciate a detailed explanation from Interior officials about how a man with a clear record of driving drunk was allowed behind the wheel of a BIA emergency vehicle, and how the Interior Department will ensure this does not happen again. The BIA and, perhaps, the BLM, must take steps to restore public confidence that it can fulfill its mission while not endangering New Mexicans on our highways.
Julie Dreike in my Albuquerque office at 505-346-6781 can arrange this briefing.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
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