The John Carman Report

Promotion anyone?
Do you have what it takes
to become a Customs Supervisor?

I am reminded constantly by my former co-workers, and actual witnesses to incidents of unfair labor practices within the Customs Service with regards to the promotion potential of others that are promoted for "other reasons" to Supervisor and above.

Unfortunately, some of us have to work hard at what we do and even harder if we don't have what it "really" takes to get promoted around here in the U.S. Customs Service. I mean you have to "go down" on someone before the upper management can recognize your true potential.

I know this is not the usual subject matter that I would normally write about, but someone has to say it for what it is. It is against the law! You can not hire, promote, or take unfair advantage of someone especially if they do something extra personal and nice for you.

There is also severe evidence of "nepotism" within the Customs Service. I guess some guys and gals couldn't have a life outside Customs with all the overtime they work, so they married one of their own. Wait until they both work on the same shift with Saturdays and Sundays off? Or wait till both spouses get to be Supervisory level employees. Watch out!

As I was saying, there are several, if not, dozens of cases that I have personal information with regards to people getting promoted for something other than their hard work and proven narcotics interdiction abilities.

I was passed up for an earlier promotion because I was told by former District Director Alan J. Rappoport, that I didn't have enough M.O.I.R's on file. Believe me after that discussion, I must have put out a record number of over 30 intel reports in one evaluation phase. The person promoted six months over me had absolutely no M.O.I.R.'s on file and further, was even protected from working the hard and arduous tasks of "sucking up " car exhaust fumes at the border. I guess he was better at sucking up "other" things just as dangerous to the human body.

I even heard tell that this one individual had a special foam pad installed under the District Director's desk so that he wouldn't get a bruised head.

On another incident which is actually documented at the Office of Internal Affairs, a particular female senior inspector was "working extra hard" for her next promotion. Unfortunately, one of the other senior inspectors "accidentally" walked in on the female senior inspector who was giving the Port Director a "piece of her mind".

It was common knowledge amongst most of the supervisors with regards to this incident. At one point, the female in question ended up filing a sexual harassment case against a former Customs supervisor for making an "alleged" liable comment which was apparently true. She ultimately got her promotion to Customs Supervisor. The Former Port Director got his transfer to Los Angeles along with his wife. Wasn't that nice?

Another incident of getting a promotion for "walking in on someone important" occurred at the CMC office early in the morning when a female employee came in too early and accidentally walked in on a couple of Customs upper level managers practicing some sort of "yoga" on the chair and or desktop. After noticing this, the female subsequently got promoted and the other two went on to practice their yoga elsewhere.

Another interesting situation is with someone I was in Customs basic with. This person failed the U.S. Immigration part of the tests. You were required to pass with at least 70%. This person was allowed to take a "make up" test and still failed. I believe you only get one chance, but since he "knew" the Customs District Director in San Diego, he was allowed to "pass" with flying colors anyway. That sure takes the stress out of studying doesn't it?

Eventually, this person started to fulfill "certain requirements" of a Customs Supervisor in San Diego District. Lying on a Customs incident report is one of them. You have to be able to lie, cheat and steal! He got caught doing something wrong while on the job, like sleeping on the job, having sex on the job, taking over extended lunch breaks, not reporting to work on time, etc... I guess what you do on your lunch break, in your own personal vehicle, is your business. I just wouldn't let the wife find out about it.

Ultimately this person got promoted to Supervisory Customs Inspector recently in 1998, but after fulfilling the many "hidden" requirements of lying, cheating and now, stealing on the job.

While a truck was allegedly being seized for a narcotics zero tolerance violation, the truck was impounded and detained under the law for violations of Customs Laws. There just happened to be a really neat "bicycle" in the back of this violator's truck, which now, technically, belonged to the U.S. Treasury Department. Since this new Customs Supervisor had his eye on this bicycle for whatever reason, he decided to separate the bicycle from the truck which now belonged to the Treasury Department until further proceedings could be accomplished. he took the bicycle and had it removed to a remote part of the Customs secondary lot for "safe keeping".

He even had another Customs employee watch it for him. Later, the newly promoted Customs Supervisor tried to permanently remove the bicycle for himself and was ultimately "caught" and charged with theft. Remember, this "new Supervisor" knows one of the most important attributes, lying.

Ultimately, the charges were dropped and he goes back to work because of a "misunderstanding". This is the same guy who has lied on official Customs documents and will do the "wrong thing" for management when it counts. That way, they can always depend on him for future "favors" of one kind or another.

Is it extortion or black mail if you like what you are doing? Doesn't the Mafia operate in a similar fashion? Politics?

The names were not mentioned to protect the innocent. Remember, you can not be sued for liable if it is true!

Be careful out there! The Government doesn't like competition. So don't steal!



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