The acting deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, the second-highest position within the agency, recently chose to retire following allegations of sexual misconduct from female employees, two people familiar with the matter said. An official said. NBC News Tuesday.
Joel Martinez, a 31-year veteran of the Border Patrol, was placed on administrative leave after being accused of misconduct. Mr. Martinez became acting deputy chief in January and also served as chief patrol officer in the Laredo, Texas, area.
The now-retired officer is under investigation by Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility just a month after assuming his new position.
Sources said multiple female co-workers accused Martinez of sexual misconduct while working in Laredo, NBC reported. The news outlet said the women claimed Martinez made “offensive comments” about his desire to have sex with them. The women reportedly felt threatened and pressured by Mr. Martinez.
He was suspended last Thursday, three CBP officials said. washington post.
CBP spokeswoman Erin Waters told news outlets that CBP “does not tolerate misconduct within our ranks.”
“If we discover any suspected or potential wrongdoing, we immediately refer the matter to an investigation and fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigation,” Waters said. “Federal privacy laws prohibit discussing individual cases.”
NBC News reported that Martinez’s move to retire while the investigation is ongoing means he will not face professional repercussions even if the allegations are substantiated. Additionally, the results of the agency’s investigation are unlikely to be made public unless the agency makes a criminal referral and the Justice Department decides to prosecute the case.
tony barkerThe Border Patrol’s former acting director of law enforcement operations resigned last year after being accused of coercing female agents into sexual favors. Mr Barker denied the charges.
“Any claims that I have pressured or victimized women for sexual favors are completely and unequivocally false. I am proud of my 21 years of service with the U.S. Border Patrol. . I am now taking time to focus on my family and look for other opportunities,” Barker said.
The Washington Post reported that CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility has completed more than 800 investigations into allegations of misconduct in the United States. 2022. These investigations resulted in 12 indictments, 18 arrests, 10 convictions, and 152 administrative sanctions.
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