Rubin Orders Inquiry Into Attendance at Racist Event

Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin ordered an inquiry Tuesday into whether 31 law enforcement officers should be disciplined for their participation in the “Good O’ Boys Roundup,” an annual event that has drawn widespread condemnation for its racist and lewd behavior.

Embracing a report issued by the Treasury’s office of the inspector general, which found “no credible evidence that any Treasury employee engaged in overtly racist acts,” Rubin asked the heads of law enforcement bureaus under his supervision to research whether the unnamed officers should be punished for attending the weekend parties in the woods of eastern Tennessee.

In a statement released with the report, Rubin also disclosed that two agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms--who are subject to disciplinary inquiry because of their participation at the roundups--are among the 100 Treasury agents investigating 18 cases of suspected firebombing of black churches.

“ATF will review the record promptly and consult with the Department of Justice in order to carefully determine whether [the two] investigators should discontinue work on the church arson investigations,” Rubin said in his statement.

Rubin accepted the inspector general’s recommendation that Treasury officials immediately implement a set of 15 new policy directives dealing with racism and bias in hiring, training, evaluation and discipline.

“Simply put, new rules will make clear that we won’t tolerate abjectly racist or biased conduct on- or off-duty and that we wish not to hire people who have engaged in racist or biased conduct before seeking a job with Treasury,” Rubin’s statement said.

In addition to ATF, Treasury supervises about 19,500 law enforcement agents associated with the Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Customs. The new guidelines go into effect for all agencies except Customs, employees of which are represented by a union. The department is negotiating work rules changes with the union.

The stern new policy warnings came in response to public disclosure last year that local and federal law enforcement officials attended the “Good O’ Boys Roundups.” Embarrassed by the media reports of white officers issuing “nigger hunting licenses” and wearing T-shirts with a likeness of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the cross-hairs of a rifle, government officials launched an extensive investigation into Treasury Department policies and guidelines on employee behavior, which led to the inspector general’s report.

The inch-thick report contained exhibits detailing an assortment of racist comments, skits and apparel. Without assigning blame to any individuals or calling for specific disciplinary actions, the report proposed a seven-step plan to screen job applicants more carefully and ensure every federal law enforcement official understands and accepts the department’s “zero tolerance--in deed as well as in word--for racism and other types of misconduct.”

Last month, a similar Justice Department report found that its “employees could be punished if they were found to have directly engaged in racist acts even while off duty.” Justice has jurisdiction over the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose agents have attended the roundups.

Edward S. Knight, general counsel at the Treasury Department, said the government has considered the 1st Amendment implications of its new policy, which would restrict the speech and assembly rights of federal agents. “Law enforcement agents must meet a higher standard of public conduct” than other citizens, Knight said.

Ronald K. Noble, former Treasury undersecretary for enforcement and a current consultant to the department on the matter, told reporters that he believes the policy changes in hiring and employment practices would make it more difficult for employees to engage in racist activities because everyone would clearly know that such behavior violates department policies.

“We want to make sure we hire the best people and train them to understand what they should and shouldn’t do,” Noble said.

He said that the 31 law enforcement officials cited for potential disciplinary action include 15 referred for an inquiry based on suspected violations of department regulations, including potential racist activities at the roundup or using government cars to attend the event. He said that 16 others would be referred to their bureau heads for fact-finding hearings or sensitivity counseling.

Norman Dorsen, chairman of a five-member Citizens Review Panel charged with overseeing the government’s investigation of the roundup, praised the report as “a work of high quality.” But he expressed “reservations” about its failure to “make any findings of fact or draw conclusions concerning the individual culpability.”

Noble and Treasury officials downplayed Dorsen’s concerns, saying that each member of the review panel praised the report.