"No Confidence" BOP Director

[copboy]

You might start with the fact that they are 2 different people. That is like saying I have no faith in my GS 5 officers. Why should I have faith in the GS 8's

[cllingo]

copboy, what I said was correct. Every bureau director appointed has come from the bureau. None were selected off the street. That is what I was referring to, which you knew that.

[copboy]

Not true. the way you said it was like it was an in house promotion. If you want to blame anyone, blame each President. Or better yet, have the FOP take over bargaining for the BOP instead of the AFGE. How can the AFGE effectively represent law enforcement? They have too many non LEO agencies to represent. People complain that a Warden cannot be effective, and a Director cannot be effective if they never wore the uniform of an officer. Has John Gage worn the uniform of an officer? It was the FOP NOT the AFGE who got LEOSA passed. Phil Glover told me prior to LEOSA when I asked him to push for this legislation "Why? I do not need the BOP's permission to get a permit" NICE attitude.

[cllingo]

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Washington, DC .... Director ...... Career Incumbent .............. CA ES ................ ................
Do ....................
Director, National Institute of Corrections ..... Morris L. Thigpen .............. NA ES ................ ................

This comes straight from the "Plum Book" where the political appointees list is derived. According to this, every bureau director is a career incumbent. The appointment for the Director is generated from an existing staff member in the bureau. Most all other Directors and cabinet appointments are generated thru "favors" and from outside of the agency. Each director of the bureau has maintained that position until they decided to retire, not when a new President was elected.

[Movementarian]

Originally Posted by copboy

Or better yet, have the FOP take over bargaining for the BOP instead of the AFGE.

That, my friend, is an outstanding idea.

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Originally Posted by copboy

Not true. the way you said it was like it was an in house promotion. If you want to blame anyone, blame each President. Or better yet, have the FOP take over bargaining for the BOP instead of the AFGE. How can the AFGE effectively represent law enforcement? They have too many non LEO agencies to represent. People complain that a Warden cannot be effective, and a Director cannot be effective if they never wore the uniform of an officer. Has John Gage worn the uniform of an officer? It was the FOP NOT the AFGE who got LEOSA passed. Phil Glover told me prior to LEOSA when I asked him to push for this legislation "Why? I do not need the BOP's permission to get a permit" NICE attitude.

I've considered the same thing for years. But, supervisors and managers would still not be bargaining unit members unless the law changed. The caste system would remain in place.

In fairness, Bryan Lowry, AFGE's Council of Prison Locals President has worn the uniform and it is the Council, not the AFGE umbrella, that negotiates with the BOP.

[KBCraig]

Originally Posted by cllingo

Each director of the bureau has maintained that position until they decided to retire, not when a new President was elected.

Or until he gets caught playing hanky-panky with male subordinates and retires "unexpectedly".

You're both right: past directors have been Career incumbents. And, they are appointed by the President and serve at the President's pleasure. On they day they are appointed, they sign an undated resignation letter, which remains in their file. Say the wrong thing, and the resignation will be "accepted".

The first three directors, though, could not honestly be called "career BOP". That means that from 1930 to 1970, the BOP was headed by men who fit the stereotype of "political appointee".

Read their biographies here:
BOP: Past Directors

Lappin hired in as a case manager, and barely set foot inside a prison after that. Kathy Hawk-Sawyer was a psychologist. Quinlan was a lawyer. Norm Carlson worked two years at Leavenworth and Ashland, then spent the next 27 years working in the Central Office, including 17 years as Director.

In other words, it's been 50 years since a Bureau Director put on a uniform and worked a housing unit.

[moneytra1n]

lmao. BikerRN. You learn something new every day.

[jafish]

Originally Posted by copboy

Or better yet, have the FOP take over bargaining for the BOP instead of the AFGE.

Originally Posted by Movementarian

That, my friend, is an outstanding idea.

I third that motion!!

[KBCraig]

As an officer in my AFGE local, I would have no qualms aligning with FOP instead of AFGE. AFGE is too closely aligned with the interests of AFL/CIO, which often works against BOP interests. Very few BOP employees are members of FOP (I'm not; I don't even know how to join), and yet FOP has stood up for us repeatedly on LEOSA matters.

Copboy, I know what you mean about Phil and LEOSA (and FOP). At a regional caucus in 2005, some folks brought up LEOSA, and the FOP's role. Phil got all hot and warned them that it was against the constitution to belong to another union, and threatened to kick them out for joining FOP.