Capitol Police Find Hurdles on Path to Reform

Missteps Show Growing Pains as Agency Tries to Evolve Into Elite Force

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the U.S. Capitol Police have tried to become a premier anti-terrorism force, rapidly expanding as the agency's budget tripled. But a series of recent mistakes has highlighted the difficulties of changing a force once made up of glorified security guards.

The gaffes seem stunning for a department that protects the nation's most powerful lawmakers: One-quarter of the newest batch of recruits was hired despite failing criminal checks and other employment criteria; a team of officers overlooked a crude bomb in a truck; and the police radio system keeps breaking down.

The problems reflect the growing pains of a force that has struggled to adapt to a new, urgent level of threat. The Capitol Police grew out of a corps of untrained security guards, many of them college students, appointed by members of Congress. Under former chief Terrance W. Gainer, who took over in 2002, the department added about 400 officers, bringing it near its current total of 1,600. It also developed sophisticated intelligence, as well as hazmat and other units.

Yet congressional and police officials point to lingering weaknesses on management issues, and a Senate committee will hold a hearing next week on the problems.

Although Gainer was a popular "cop's cop" who elevated the abilities of the force, its administrative side lagged, according to congressional officials. The Capitol Police had no standard financial statements, poor procurement controls, critical shortages of civilian personnel and inadequate hiring policies, according to reports in recent years by the Government Accountability Office.

"There was a hyper-focus on bringing in bodies and money and no focus on accountability," said Salley Collins, a spokeswoman for the Republican staff on the House Administration Committee. "Management didn't keep up with the growth of the department."

Gainer, who left the job in 2006 and is now Senate sergeant-at-arms, disagreed.

"There's been a lot of accountability," he said. "To the extent that the administrative side has continued to struggle, that's what happens when you grow a business quickly."

Gainer inherited a department that did not even control its own budget and payroll functions, a reflection of the old congressional patronage system. That changed only in recent years.

"Half of the department was owned by the Senate, half of the department was owned by the House," Gainer said. "It's just not the way you would build a modern department."

Building the force was further complicated by constant high-profile incidents at the Capitol in the past few years, including terror threats, evacuations and elaborate presidential funerals involving hundreds of officers.

"Everyone has been wanting to blow up that Capitol since 9/11, and it hasn't occurred. Those men and women have prevented it," Gainer said.