Carol Anne Costa: Fence Jumping and Fist Pumping Bureaucracy in Crisis

Carol Anne Costa: Fence Jumping and Fist Pumping Bureaucracy in Crisis

The moment that the knife wielding Omar Gonzalez jumped the White House fence and made a mad dash to what we know now, was the length of the first floor all the way to the Green Room, perhaps gave the bureaucracy that is the Secret Service a shakeup it so desperately needs. Really, the recent history of the force that is assembled to protect the office of the Presidency, Cabinet members, our National treasures, visiting dignitaries and so much more, is in the vernacular, a “hot mess.” What is the mission of the United States Secret Service? According the their website: “The mission of the United States Secret Service is to safeguard the nation's financial infrastructure and payment systems to preserve the integrity of the economy, and to protect national leaders, visiting heads of state and government, designated sites and National Special Security Events.” Pretty straightforward, right? They watch over lots of important stuff.

But for me a child of the 60’s, the Secret Service was the embodiment of a force who protected us, the people through the protection of the President, the White House and the Capitol. Over time, I have most likely romanticized it in my head, but they represented a powerful America, you know cut from the Clark Kent cloth. They were the people who would take a bullet for our Democracy. It was known to us that if they failed, a Constitutional emergency would ensue. Strong, quiet and brave they stood a post, they kept a watch and they were the sentinels of our republic. Now? Not so much.

50 Shades of Disgrace

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The public learned in April of 2012 that when as many as 13 members of the President’s Secret Service detail were engaging the services of prostitutes while off duty at a hotel in Cartagena in advance of a President Obama appearance at the Summit of the Americas. I remember how appalled the nation was as this revelation. In November of 2013, a Secret Service Supervisor was caught trying to sneak back into a woman’s room of the Hay-Adams Hotel in D.C.; it seems the officer left a bullet from his service revolver on her night table. He attempted to use his authority to let the staff get him access to her room after she refused him re-entry. The agent enlisted another agent, both members of President Obama’s personal detail, to assist him in his fruitless endeavor and prompted an investigation that led to the additional finding that pair engaged in misconduct by sending sexually suggestive e-mails sent to a female subordinate. These are elite agents right, Clark Kent… my foot.  In March of 2014. three secret service agents were sent home from the Netherlands after a night of heavy drinking. One agent was found passed out drunk in a hallway the next morning. “Can’t believe I drank the whole thing.”

Were these scandals a wake-up call, a sobriety check or a direct order to straighten up and fly right? Apparently not. But, they were a reason to bring in a new Director, enter Julia Pierson. Armed with experience and robust Curriculum Vitae, would she be the solution to an agency in a downward spiral? In an appearance before Congress in April of this year Pierson re-assured the body that her focus was to root out and deal with misconduct in the ranks stating, "I remain committed to swiftly and vigorously addressing any instances of misconduct that are brought to my attention." Hello, Julia are you there? Maybe her nifty, secret agent earpiece fell out.

The SS and the CYA

Not often these days do the members of Congress coalesce; in fact they can almost disagree on the color of the sky on any given day. So when an issue can bring these polarized forces together and find Democrats and Republicans fist pumping in unison, it’s got to be a pretty big, clear and acute problem. But, remember Omar’s big adventure did not start on Pennsylvania Avenue and end under the tackle of an alert agent outside the Green Room. It really began at a traffic stop months ago in Virginia where he carried in his car a small arsenal and specific maps of the White House. Hmmm my gut says, “Danger Will Robinson” but that’s just me. After being questioned and released Omar then showed up last month at the White House carrying a hatchet. I would think his record would have been flagged; again, that’s just me. Secret Service merely questioned him and released him only to have his next visit be to the East Room via the fence, the lawn and North Portico unlocked and unguarded door. Quick question: have you ever visited the White House? Everything you own is checked, flagged, tagged, bagged and scrutinized. And your name, SS number and date of birth is provided months in advance, rightly so. “Better safe”, as my mother used to say.   

When the House Oversight Committee questioned, chastised and admonished embattled Director Pierson, their blood was boiling and the verbal grenades came from every direction. As the first female Secret Service Director her appearance was less than inspiring and had even me question her role as a leader. My feminist self was not falling the love. Informing the committee that she would make certain, “this would never happen again” rang hollow and it was Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts who really cut to the quick, “I wish to God you protected the White House like you protected your reputation here today." Well said, Representative.

Houston, We Have a Problem

Perhaps it was fortuitous that Omar Gonzalez carried out his plan, as he has exposed a bureaucratic nightmare as well as an agency lacking direction, confidence and focus. He has uncovered a rudderless ship of people charged with protecting the very core of our Democracy. In a time that so many extremist groups both domestic and global want to do us harm, this is a wake-up call of epic proportions. This whole episode combined with the scandals of the past few years requires an entire re – boot of the Secret Service. Read and live the mission would be my advice as a place to begin. Further, it has revealed the weaknesses built in to the establishments themselves. Bureaucracies are deep, well rooted and onerous to change, often likened to turning around an aircraft carrier they move slowly. But, as Omar demonstrated with clarity the enemy does not, as they move swiftly, with surprise and frankly, it appears we are not ready.

Agencies need strong leaders, empowered ranks, professional development, good morale and constant training and if we are to be honest this is required at every level of government: local, state, and federal. #complacency=danger  

After the submission of this MINDSETTER™, the Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigned.

Carol Costa is a public relations and community outreach specialist; she has experience in both the public and private sectors. She is the Chairwoman of the Scituate Democratic Town Committee and has extensive community affairs and public relations experience. She previously served in the Rhode Island Judiciary for nearly 17 years. Carol also enjoyed a successful development stint at the Diocese of Providence as Associate Director for Catholic Education and is currently a public housing manager. Her work has been published in several local outlets including GoLocal, Valley Breeze, The Rhode Island Catholic, and Currents Magazine.