Legal Research

High Turnover in FBI: A Sign Of Health Or Instability?

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime and Justice News, May 1, 2008.

"Steady turnover among senior FBI agents is raising concerns about the loss of experience in oversight roles and the agency's long-term stability, says USA Today. Critics say the turnover puts less experienced agents in key security and supervisory roles. FBI Director Robert Mueller "has run off agents with centuries of experience at the supervisory level," says Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), a former judge and member of the House Judiciary Committee."

"Donald Packham, who oversees the FBI's personnel operations, says turnover allows talented agents to enter top ranks faster and stay longer. Turnover 'is healthy,' he says, and "hundreds" of agents are interested in management. "We're still struggling with how to do this," he says. In the past 16 months, 29 of the bureau's 56 field offices have new chiefs due to retirements, resignations and promotions. Among field offices with new leaders: Minneapolis and Denver, sites of this year's national political conventions; Detroit; Portland, Or.; and El Paso."

USA Today

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on May 01, 2008 (boomark / email).