Ellis McCoy / The FBI and their fashion statement

I don’t know if many of you are following the troubles of City of Portland’s Parking Manager, Ellis K. McCoy. I may be wrong, but it looks like another governmental employee was caught with his hand in the cookie jar – finally. The criminal allegations against McCoy include ‘kickbacks’ for official favors in exchange for lucrative City contracts. But that’s not really what I wanted to discuss…

Did you happen to notice the Oregonian’s front page photo showing FBI Agents leaving McCoy’s City offices (8/11/11)? The Agents weren’t there to make an arrest, according to the article. They were there to serve a search warrant. Even if they had planned to arrest McCoy, or considered it a possibility, the Bureau nonetheless took the time to notify McCoy’s boss, Mayor Sam Adams, in advance. And, apparently, the Bureau gave Maxine Bernstein, the Oregonian’s ace reporter, a heads-up so she could be present when the ‘raid’ occurred.

I was a little taken aback by the photo of the Agents. This is definitely not your father’s FBI. I’m speaking mainly of their attire. The Agents are dressed casually in denim pants and tee-shirts. But, they are also sporting bullet proof vests, low slung automatics, first aid kits, sunglasses (for the glare of indoor lighting I suppose), and specially made shooting gloves. Wow! I was wondering if McCoy wet himself when the Agents burst through the door.

Things have certainly changed since the time when Bureau Agents wore coat and tie, with discreetly carried revolvers, to conduct a rather routine mission.

I particularly got a kick out of the sunglasses.

True Nelson