SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Home-to-Work (HTW) transportation imposes a major cost burden to the taxpayer. Current guidance that governs HTW utilization within the departments of the Executive Branch is overly permissive and leaves room for wide interpretation which leads to overuse and misuse of government vehicles. This is due primarily to a lack of definitions assigned to words in the key subsection of 31USC1344 which allows HTW usage, especially... more »

Let's be realistic, the 4th amendment is the 4th amendment. So many Federal Agents change jobs and have to go through essentially the SAME academy at FLETC over and over again. There are some things that are consistent with Federal Agencies. Consider having a 3-4 month BASIC academy and then the agencies can sponsor their own specialized training.

The USCG continues to operate on a personnel business model based upon its historic military roots. However, the modern missions that they undertake are vastly different from that of the Revenue Cutter Service. In fact, the majority of the USCG does not operate in that manner. You wouldn't know if from the posters and press releases, but the marine inspectors/investigators, pollution response personnel, oil/chemical... more »

Over the past two field seasons, many of the forests in Region 5, including the Mendocino NF have implemented a "buddy system" out of concern for illegal grow operations occuring on the forest. The system creates an enormous burden on some of the most important individuals on the forest, those who prepare and execute contracts to meet the ecosystem management goals. These goals were not met last fiscal year, and will... more »

Congress should craft a regulation requiring Federal law enforcement officers who are paid to protect the public be physically fit enough to hold that position. LEOs are paid for the 0.01% of their time when it is necessary to fight a criminal or chase a fleeing felon (a.k.a. protecting the public). If they can't physically perform during that 0.01% of the time, they shouldn't be paid.
Out-of-shape LEOs are more prone... more »

Federal agents often encounter crimes which they do not pursue due to thresholds constraints set by AUSA's & the like (white collar crimes most often). So, instead of letting them walk, let the Agents cut them a ticket not unlike a speeding ticket but with much larger fines. All violent crimes excluded of course.

I suggest that Law Enforcment pay and retirement for the FBOP is only given to those staff who spend the majority of their shift (time) inside the fence during their career. The staff that work in the front offices, regional offices, and central offices should only get it if they spent more than 50% of their career working inside the fence at a prison or carries a weapon more than 50% of their career. Considering the... more »

Homeland Security is comprised of many different agencies, many with law enforcement responsibilities. Each of those law enforcement organizations has its own uniform program. (In some cases, one agency may have several uniform programs.) The Department should scuttle those programs, and adopt a single law enforcement uniform program, which would include dress and utility uniforms. Shoulder patches and other insignia... more »

We have naval ships cutting holes in the Caribbean ocean rights now looking for drug smugglers! I cannot even begin to fathom the cost it takes just to get one of these ships off the pier, cost of the vessel, fuel, paying the crew, training the crew, maintaining the ship, not to mention the risk involved with operating said ship. Our Navy should wage war, not chase drug smugglers. I use this as an example, there are dozens... more »

The Coast Guard being the only Armed Service to conduct peace time missions and the only Armed Service not apart of DoD, should be switched from military to civil service jobs. This could reduce cost by the the millions and only improve the Coast Guard Business of Law Enforcement and it's other 4 missions. As a DHS service entity, the Coast Guard could be allocated better and more responsible funding. Additionally, certain... more »