with Tom Temin and Jane Norris, Monday-Friday 6-10am.September 25, 2009 - 7:31am
| OPM Director John Berry | |
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The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a part-time Census worker.
Investigators found the body of 51-year-old Bill Sparkman in a remote patch of a national forest in rural Clay County, Kentucky.
It's not clear yet whether this was suicide or a killing.
Federal News Radio's Max Cacas was also able to sit down with OPM Director John Berry to discuss the situation.
"First and foremost, out thoughts and our condolences and our prayers go out to the family of this employee. This is a great tragedy and our thoughts are with [his] family, first and foremost. Second, is the law enforcement investigation is underway. The FBI is involved."
Berry told Cacas that OPM takes any threat to any federal employee very seriously.
"Each and every day, federal employees have to operate in very tough environments. IRS workers enforcing tax collection. Our Customs and Border Patrol agents who deal with threats. Our, in this case, Census workers. Our court workers across the country . . . and their families regularly face threats."
Berry said he is keeping a close eye on the situation as it develops.
"I can promise you this. I will be paying very close attention to the results of this investigation. We will be dogging it and if this is an assault on a federal employee the full force and weight of the federal government will come down on these perpetrators as hell hath no fury. By God it will not be tolerated. We will not stand for threats or violence against federal employees anywhere."
Earlier this morning, Tom and Jane were joined by Ted Werbin, news director for WHAS radio in Louisville, Kentucky, who said local authorities have warned Census workers in the area to be careful.
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