Reports of Questionable Training at El Cajon Station

Training for a career in the US Border Patrol should be hard. If you work hard in training, the real thing should be easier. But training should be conducted with a purpose and a goal. Field Training Officers have a difficult and thankless job, but it is not a license to impose their will upon trainees. It is not the place to do the wrongs unto others that may have been done to you. Just because you had to do something when you were a trainee doesn't make it right or useful. Hazing trainees has no place in the Border Patrol.

Recently Local 1613 has become aware of questionable training methods being used at the El Cajon Border Patrol Station. Trainees are being run up and down trails not to learn the area or to work alien traffic, leaving us with the question: what is the point? Is it punishment or is there some training value to it? No one in the union is opposed to hard training, only pointless training that can get agents injured or killed. The weather in eastern San Diego county during July is conducive to heat emergencies. Bulletproof vests and poorly ventilated uniforms only make the problem worse.

On Sunday, July 5, 2009, agents were further subjected to training methods of little value. Trainees were forced to perform push-ups on hot blacktop which resulted in some agents injuring their hands. To literally add insult to injury, a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent took photos of this activity, yet did nothing to stop it. Again, where is the training value in any of this?

This kind of behavior accomplishes nothing except to placate the egos of those overseeing the trainees. It is obvious that the field training officers have not been properly trained and that management is condoning their actions. For this the FTOs should be removed from their position and the supervisor of the unit held accountable.

Local 1613 is also aware that trainees are being pressured and intimidated not to "rat" on anyone now that this situation has come to light. Any interference with the ability of an agent to exercise their right to union representation will be viewed as a serious matter and will be pursued in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and/or applicable third party procedures.

IMB Manager Up to His Old Tricks Again

Just when you think that the antics of Field Operations Supervisor Mike Apple can't get any lower, he surprises with another blatant attempt to get information to burn agents with.

Most agents are aware that Apple has people working at the RVS cameras who report to him when they see something they don't agree with on the video feeds. A few seconds taken out of context by someone far removed from the action can lead to months of investigations, grief for the accused agents, grand jury investigations, or even criminal prosecution. Apple's take on these situations seems to be slanted towards the accusers, not to the agents.

Recently we have become aware of Apple's latest "slash and burn" tactic. Certain shifts have a contact/cover unit that works between the primary and secondary fences providing back-up to the line units. To ensure that this unit provides ample coverage to the line units, Apple has enlisted the help of a new, highly-trained, supervisory unit: the minimum wage paid, LAPR card carrying, KIEWIT security officers.

From information provided by these security guards, Apple has given them his cell phone number so that they can inform him of how many times they see the contact/cover unit during a shift. Apparently Apple does not trust the agents enough to do their job correctly, nor does he trust his own managers to properly supervise those agents. If that is the case it is deeply disturbing.

Is this tactic known to and approved by sector and station management, or is it solely the design of one misguided manager? Members need to be aware of this new tactic and are advised to use caution when dealing with FOS Apple. Remember that according to our contract should Apple or any other supervisor wish to speak with you, and you feel that discipline may result from that conversation then you are entitled to union representation. With these kind of tactics currently being used by some supervisors, we advise that you call a union rep...quickly.

Unless the management at Imperial Beach does something to correct FOS Apple's actions, we foresee more events like this occurring in the future. Please contact us if you are aware of similar incidents.

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VRP Grievance Settled on Courthouse Steps

Facing another near-certain arbitration loss, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) attorney requested a meeting with the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) to discuss settlement for the grievance over the Voluntary Relocation Program (VRP). The parties were scheduled to meet on June 18, 2009 before an arbitrator. Fortunately, Labor and Employee Relations personnel did not play a major role in the settlement discussion, which allowed Border Patrol Management and the Union to reach a fair and equitable settlement in a short amount of time. We look forward to conducting business in a similar manner in the future.

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In Memoriam - Harold Newton

The National Border Patrol Council - Local 1613 is deeply saddened to report that Harold Newton, brother of Border Patrol Inspector Theodore L. Newton, Jr., passed away on June 11, 2009 at approximately 2:18 p.m.

For those who do not know, Harold and the Newton family are very special members of the Border Patrol family. Since his brother’s tragic death on June 17, 1967, Harold fought tirelessly to improve the Border Patrol, to protect the agents, and to prevent another tragedy. While we cannot list all of his accomplishments, there are a few he regularly mentioned when he spoke: successfully lobbied on numerous occasions for increased manpower for the Border Patrol; successfully challenged Border Patrol policy which foolishly permitted two-man checkpoint operations; and successfully lobbied to make sure new agents were not assigned to the field prior to attending basic training at the academy. While this is just a brief list of his accomplishments, those who know Harold are well aware of how he is a remarkable advocate for the Border Patrol and all of its agents.

Information for the funeral services will be posted when the family provides the details. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Newton family during this difficult time.

Pictured below is Harold Newton (right) with Congressman Darrell Issa at the official ceremony to rename the Murrieta station as the Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Border Patrol Station.