Opinion ID: 463530
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: BATF's Actions

Text: 12 BATF, like the other federal agencies which considered Perry for employment, is a sophisticated federal law enforcement agency. BATF did not rely entirely on the FBI information, but conducted its own independent background investigation of Perry and then declined to hire him. The affidavit of the BATF official who decided not to hire Perry explains how that agency went about considering Perry for employment. In compliance with Executive Order 10450, a full field preemployment background investigation was initiated because the position Perry was being considered for was classified as critical sensitive. 13 While the investigation was still in progress that official had a conversation with Perry in which Perry advised that the FBI memorandum was not accurate. Later the official received the BATF investigation report. It included some new allegations not in the FBI memorandum. One item was that during a discussion Perry had pulled a gun on an acting chief of police for whom he had once worked. Another was that Perry had falsified his employment application by not admitting a state arrest for questioning and by failing to list employment with the Illinois State Police and with two other local police departments, one of which had fired him. The mayor of one town where Perry had worked reported that Perry would be scary with a gun and this city would not rehire him. 14 As a result of BATF's refusal to hire Perry the United States Civil Service Commission incorrectly advised Perry that the Commission had sustained a request from BATF to disqualify him for an agent's position, but that he had a right to appeal. Shortly thereafter the Commission corrected its position and advised Perry that the Commission had not disqualified him, only BATF had individually rejected him. Therefore, the Commission advised, Perry's name had been restored to the register for consideration for employment by other federal agencies. There was no ban on federal employment imposed, and there was nothing left for Perry to administratively appeal.