Page:Professionalism within the Workforce.pdf/21

VI. Conclusion

While aggressively attempting to curtail instances of employee misconduct, the Secret Service will, like any large organization, continue to face isolated incidents requiring an appropriate response. All Secret Service employees must abide by the highest standards of professional conduct, whether on duty or off duty, and regardless of whether or not a particular behavior is prohibited in the Table of Penalties. As stated in the Secret Service manual, the absence of an offense code for a particular act does not mean that such an act is condoned or acceptable, or that it will not result in adverse action or discipline.

The Secret Service will continue to institute changes in the way that the agency reinforces professionalism across the workforce and how it responds to instances of misconduct. Although many of the enhancements put in place over the past several years provide a strong foundation, standards of conduct will need to be periodically reinforced and, in some instances, adjusted, and the consequences for failing to meet them will need to be communicated. Most recently, on March 23, 2015, Director Clancy issued an official message to all Secret Service employees making clear that employees are required to report through their chain of command any activities that violate the Secret Service standards of conduct or that otherwise negatively affect the protective or investigative mission of the Secret Service. The official message further stated that failure by an employee to make such notifications may result in disciplinary action. Employees were also informed of the options available to them to report incidents of misconduct. These options include the Secret Service's Ombudsman, the Secret Service's Office of Professional Responsibility, the Secret Service's Inspection Division, the Secret Service's Inspection Hotline, the Secret Service's ITG, and externally through the DHS OIG, the DHS OIG Hotline, and the Office of Special Counsel.

The Secret Service is continuing its efforts to define and communicate its expectations regarding professionalism and conduct to the workforce. Effective March 23, 2015, Secret Service employees were also prohibited from operating a government-owned, -leased, or -rented vehicle within 10 hours of consuming an alcoholic beverage. On that same date, Deputy Director Magaw issued an official message to all Secret Service employees emphasizing that any employee who violates this policy will be subject to the full range of available disciplinary and adverse actions up to and including removal from employment.

The Secret Service is committed to ensuring a strict code of professional conduct, a transparent process for administering discipline, and accountability regardless of rank or grade. Although it is ultimately the individual responsibility of employees to adhere to the standards of conduct, the Secret Service understands that it must provide its employees with clear, comprehensive policies and mechanisms to enforce them. When