WASHINGTON — In an effort to enhance and strengthen transparency and accountability, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced it has begun posting monthly employee arrest data to an online dashboard on the CBP.gov website.
In previous years, employee arrest data was posted annually on CBP.gov in the agency’s Discipline Overview Report and Annual Report. These yearly reports include data regarding CBP employees who were arrested on or off the job, and they provide the complete picture of the allegations, investigations and subsequent CBP disciplinary actions.
“The American people have entrusted us to safeguard our country’s borders by protecting them from dangerous people and materials while also facilitating legal trade and travel. Employee conduct – on and off duty – forms the basis of that public trust,” said CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of Commissioner Troy Miller. “Our driving vision is to serve America as the premier law enforcement agency, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to achieving this goal by carrying out our vital duties with the utmost integrity. Regardless of rank, position or duty station, every employee is accountable for upholding the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.”
With an average of approximately 61,700 employees, CBP is the largest law enforcement agency in the country. Less than one percent of employees are arrested for alleged offenses. CBP employs a rigorous hiring process, which includes a full background investigation for all applicants and a polygraph examination for all law enforcement officer positions.
Ensuring that employees exhibit the highest ethical character is not something that ends once an individual enters on duty. CBP continually and proactively addresses the issue of employee integrity. The agency has developed and implemented an evaluation program guided by the highest ethical and moral principles to continuously monitor for any criminal and suspicious activity within our workforce.