Cops give their chief low marks

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse received overwhelmingly low marks from his officers, according to a survey released Monday.

Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Administration Committee, said the survey results were disconcerting and demanded a closer look.

{mosads}“I am concerned about the dissatisfaction expressed by the union members,” Brady said in a statement. “I urge Chief Morse to continue to focus on communicating with the officers and to expand efforts to highlight the work of the force and the successes being achieved. Enhanced internal communications will only serve to increase the effectiveness of the organization.”

More than 300 Capitol Police officers responded to the online survey, which posed a series of statements centering on Morse’s job performance and asked participants whether they agreed or disagreed with them. The chief did not receive higher than a 16 percent approval rating on any of the 10 questions.

Over 90 percent of respondents to the survey, which was voluntary and open for two weeks, said “the lack of trust and miscommunications” within the department “impedes our ability to serve and protect the Capitol, members of Congress and the Senate, visitors and staff.”

“I think the results speak for themselves,” said Matt Tighe, chairman of the Capitol Police Labor Committee. “They represent a snapshot of the feelings of the rank-and-file that protect our Capitol.”

Morse did not respond to a request for comment. His Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said the department had not seen the survey results yet but would carefully consider them when they are known.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the union on topics relevant to the success of the U.S. Capitol Police,” Schneider said.

Ninety-five percent of respondents said they disagreed that Morse “carefully considers how policy changes might affect officers in both the short term and long term.”

Officers who were dissatisfied with the chief’s leadership suggested the survey at a labor union meeting last month in the wake of several managerial failings. Union officials commissioned the online voting company VoteNet to administer it.

The director of the Capitol Police’s human resources department was removed last month after it was revealed that two classes of recruits had not undergone criminal background checks or psychological evaluations.

Fifteen of the recruits were subsequently told they would not be hired on with the department. More than one-third of them are appealing the decision.

The Capitol Police bomb squad also came under scrutiny recently as documents surfaced that indicated its shortage of training, experience and equipment.

Tighe said he plans to bring the results with him Wednesday as part of his testimony before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, which has scheduled the hearing to explore the Capitol Police’s recent mishaps.

The number of officers who responded to the survey is typical of surveys the union has completed in the past. On average, about one-third of the 900-member union partake in polls, Tighe said.

Morse scored best when officers were asked about his ability to provide equal treatment to all within the department.

Still, that resulted in 84 percent who said they felt Morse does not hold “every member of the department, regardless of rank, civilian or sworn, to the same professional standards as they relate to conduct and discipline.”

The question of Morse’s ability to communicate openly with officers and the public was also raised in the survey.

Ninety-five percent of those who responded said Morse has not “spoken out effectively, both publicly and internally, about issues affecting the efficient operation” of the department.

Many officers were upset with Morse when he removed an experienced bomb technician after the bomb squad missed the components of an improvised explosive device earlier in the year, according to sources. They say that there were other, superior officers at the scene, including Morse, who should have borne some of the responsibility.

More than 90 percent of respondents said they felt Morse was not “willing to acknowledge his own shortcomings and accept responsibility for his mistakes or errors in judgment.”

Senate Sergeant at Arms and former Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said the results signify more work to be done for the department.

“That’s not an insignificant number,” said Gainer. “I think it means there’s a summer of discontent amongst 20 percent of the department and the chief and the (Capitol Police) board. We’ve got to work on that.”

Morse and Tighe are set to meet next week to discuss issues pertaining to the department, of which the survey will be a part, according to Gainer.

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), chairman of the Capitol Police subcommittee, also expressed worry with the results.

“The dissatisfaction expressed by some members of the Capitol Police force in the recent union survey is obviously of concern,” Capuano said in a statement.