Agriculture Secretary Vows to Protect Health Inspectors

The recent shooting deaths of three meat inspectors at a San Leandro sausage factory has put other federal agencies on edge as officials reconsider their safety policies and procedures.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman told mourners at a memorial service Friday that steps would be taken to protect health inspectors working in the field.

He stopped short of suggesting that the inspectors should be armed and said his department was looking at alternatives. He did not provide specifics.

“I’m not sure I want every federal inspector out there with firearms. That presents a great potential for violence,” he said, adding that armed inspectors might increase distrust between the government and disgruntled store owners.

“This is not a routine happening. We have a million visits a year and nothing like this has ever happened before,” Glickman said. “This is a testament to how pervasive violence is in our society. What we should definitely do is put an emphasis on decency and civility.”

Glickman spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of about 300 friends, family and co-workers gathered at the auditorium in Oakland’s Federal Building for an hourlong service honoring federal inspectors Jean Hillery and Tom Quadros and state inspector Bill Shaline, who were killed last week.

Factory owner Stuart Alexander, 39, faces federal murder charges in connection with their deaths. His arraignment in state court on charges of murder with special circumstances and attempted murder was delayed to give prosecutors time to decide where he will be tried first.

Glickman read a letter from President Clinton, who said he wished he had been able to attend the service.

“This tragedy has crossed America and shocked and saddened us all,” the letter said.

Department officials and food inspectors have begun a series of meetings to discuss what, if any, policy changes were needed, Glickman said.