Air Marshal Service Agrees To A Review

The Federal Air Marshal Service agreed Wednesday to conduct an internal review of its Denver field office in response to allegations of mismanagement.

The action came after Deputy Director Robert Byers met with the staffs of Colorado U.S. Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar to discuss charges raised during an investigative story earlier this week on Denver's 7.

That story alleged that Tony Hedges, the agent in charge of the Denver office, had fallen asleep on a plane while armed and that a complaint from a head flight attendant was never fully investigated.

Hedges, who Denver's 7 reported was not on duty during the March 2004 flight to Washington, D.C., told the station that the allegation was "a cockamamie lie."

Five air marshal agents also complained to the station about management practices, including some that they said made it easy to identify the undercover marshals on board commercial flights. They also contend that poor management has led to turnover in the office.

"I am definitely more afraid of my managers than I am of terrorists," said one of the marshals, whose voice and identity were obscured by the station.

A spokesman for the Air Marshal Service confirmed that a review is under way.

"We take these allegations seriously, and we will report our findings to both of the senators," said marshal service spokesman Conan Bruce.

Allard said he appreciates the quick response. He said his understanding is that the marshal service will conduct a two-week review of management policies followed by an on-site review. He said he was told the process should take no more than 60 days.

"I was somewhat astounded," Allard said in describing his initial reaction to Denver's 7's story. "My second reaction was that we've got to check these out."

He said he is satisfied that the director of the Air Marshal Service is taking the matter seriously.

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