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PrintHank Investigates: Armed and On Board
They're sharpshooters, crime fighters, special agents, in the front lines of federal law enforcement targeting gun runners, drug dealers, and America's most wanted. But now, they're being ordered into the air.
The FAA needs hundreds of air marshals to police commercial flights. The problem is they can't train new recruits fast enough. The instant solution- call in the experts.
This man, who may soon go undercover, could be one of them.
- Former Federal Agent
"I was always an excellent marksman and I expect I'm not that bad now."
Our investigation found the feds, now scrambling to staff the skies, are tapping the IRS, DEA, U.S. Customs, ATF, and U.S. Marshals, pulling agents off the job and putting them armed and undercover onto passenger flights.
Here at ATF's boston headquarters, the agent in charge knows some of his team members may be gone for more than a year.
- Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Were you told it was important that ATF help out?"
- Spl. Agent J. Dewey Webb, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
"Yes this is one of our top priorities."
Number and details of the reassignments are not public, but this internal memo obtained by 7News reveals the nuts and bolts:
Supervisors say their agents are good to go.
- Spl. Agent J. Dewey Webb
"We are sending senior special agents and we are sending some of our best."
Crisis management experts say that the borrowed marshals are just a stop gap.
- Larry Johnson, Security Expert
"What they are doing is putting them on a plane to let people feel better about flying, that they are going to be safer."
- Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
- Larry Johnson
"It's a good short term fix."
One question- what happens to ongoing investigations, this internal memo admits resources will be stretched to the maximum. But the ATF shows off this handgun stash from a sting operation after agents were reassigned.
- Spl. Agent J. Dewey Webb
"People are working a little bit harder people are working a little bit longer but that's what we get paid to do."
And our investigation found agencies may soon get some backup because the hiring call is also on for former employees. This man, a retired special agent, says if the government needs him back, sign him up.
- Former Federal Agent
"I had thirty years in the law enforcement field and I bet its not going to be any more dangerous than it was in that time period."
In fact, he's just part of what officials call an astonishing response to a new federal reemployment readiness program. We have learned almost 3000 federal pensioners have already sent applications into federal hiring offices.
- Larry Johnson
"It's just bringing in reinforcements because people are going 24 hours a day 7 days a week and you reach up against human limits you get tired you get sloppy this is to give people some breathing space."
Problem is how to pay for it. This in-house memo from the government's personnel agency reveals emergency hiring rules in effect and even special salary exceptions. No one can predict the financial bottom line, but for now it's a call for all hands whether back at their desks or at 35,000 feet.
- Former Federal Agent
"I think they're happy and privileged to come back and serve their country."
The program was ramped up so quickly some borrowed air marshals are already on the job. While they fly, hundreds of permanent air marshals are being selected and trained.