Secret Service agents moved after troubles

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Secret Service has reassigned agents from its special operations division, including the top agent there, after a pair of embarrassing incidents earlier this year.<br /> <br /> The division has also changed the rules about when agents are allowed to drink before duty and on presidential trips.<br /> <br /> Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said the division's special agent in charge, Dan Donahue, was reassigned to another division.<br /> <br /> The Washington Post first reported the changes Tuesday night.<br /> <br /> The Secret Service says that in addition to transferring agents from special operations division, anyone assigned to the unit is barred from drinking within 12 hours of starting a shift. They also are not allowed to drink within 24 hours of a president's arrival on a trip.<br /> <br /> For now the new alcohol rules about drinking pertain only to the special operations division.<br /> <br /> Three agents were sent home from the Netherlands last month after one was found intoxicated in a hotel before President Barack Obama arrived to meet with foreign officials.<br /> <br /> It was the latest embarrassing incident for the Secret Service, which faced scrutiny from the White House and Congress after a prostitution scandal in South American two years ago.<br /> <br /> Two agents were involved in a vehicle crash in South Florida earlier this year during a presidential trip. The agents involved were not charged with a crime, although it was suspected alcohol was involved.<br /> <br /> Secret Service Director Julia Pierson has called the incident "isolated."<br /> <br /> "Director Pierson maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding incidents of misconduct," Donovan said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/4/273554