U.S. Forest Service

Independence Still Lacking in Law Enforcement Organization Gao ID: T-OSI-94-1 October 5, 1993

Allegations recently came to GAO's attention that program line managers in the U.S. Forest Service's law enforcement area had frequently "interfered" with investigations and that law enforcement personnel were sometimes put in the position of having to investigate their superiors, making them vulnerable to management reprisal. GAO concludes that the Forest Service's efforts so far to achieve an independent law enforcement structure are destined to fail. Forest Service management's conflicting signals and indecisiveness have resulted in interference with law enforcement efforts and fear of reprisal on the part of law enforcement employees. GAO believes that the problems could best be overcome with a direct supervisory chain of command and integration of the Forest Service's land, resource, and law enforcement functions.

Recommendations

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