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Tuesday 21 December 2010

A Portrait of a U.S. Customs & Border Protection Officer


Michael Ntiamoah, a Ghanan working as a federal law enforcement officer in Atlanta, has been arrested after shooting dead his wife and her new boyfriend:

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that a man accused of shooting and killing his estranged wife and her new boyfriend, is a federal law enforcement officer.

A spokeswoman for United States Customs and Border Protection said Michael Ntiamoah, 32, worked as a uniformed officer at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

"I guess people just snap and make horrible decisions," said one neighbor who didn't want to be identified. "I think it's something to be looked into really. I'm shocked that he was that much of a public official. I'm really shocked," she added.

Cobb County police said Ntiamoah showed up on Bexley Place early Saturday morning at the home of his estranged wife, Fatoumata Ntiamoah, and her new boyfriend, Mohamed Zaine.

Neighbors said they heard nearly 30 shots, and watched as Ntiamoah chased his wife down the street shooting at her. She died in a neighbor's driveway. Zaine was found inside their home.

"That feels less scary than a drug deal gone bad," said neighbor Rob Carswell. He was relieved to hear the shootings were a personal matter, but was concerned about Ntiamoah's job.

"What are the standards for becoming a law enforcement federal official? It's kind of scary and are we to the point where we're employing so many that we let standards slip? That's a big question," Carswell told Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer.

The spokeswoman would not disclose Ntiamoah's specific duties or how long he'd been with the federal agency. Cobb police would not confirm whether his service weapon was used in the shootings, saying any description of the gun is considered evidence.

Customs and Border Protection officers are responsible for screening people and their belongings, along with cargo as they enter the country.

The agency would not release any information about whether the officer would be suspended pending his trial.

Ntiamoah is being held without bond at the Cobb County Jail.

Truly frightening.

I must say that the main thing I take away from this case (apart from the obvious) is the question:

Isn't it some sort of conflict of interest for an immigrant, particularly one from a Third World country with high rates of corruption, to serve as a Customs and Border Protection officer?

I assume the job would include interviewing people about their visas and their reasons for entering the U.S. at the airport.

What's worrying is that I'm now so used to news like this, so used to the madness of it all just being taken as normal, that that was genuinely my first question on the matter.

Still, I suppose he'll now be filling a prison cell that an American just wouldn't fill.

As for the question Robert Carswell raises in the article - is it that they're employing so many federal officers these days, or is it more that they have to tick so many boxes about celebrating diversity that the likes of Ntiamoah looks far better to a recruitment officer than he really should?

Hat tip: View from the Right.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

To write this ''Truly frightening.

I must say that the main thing I take away from this case (apart from the obvious) is the question:

Isn't it some sort of conflict of interest for an immigrant, particularly one from a Third World country with high rates of corruption, to serve as a Customs and Border Protection officer?

I assume the job would include interviewing people about their visas and their reasons for entering the U.S. at the airport.

What's worrying is that I'm now so used to news like this, so used to the madness of it all just being taken as normal, that that was genuinely my first question on the matter.

Still, I suppose he'll now be filling a prison cell that an American just wouldn't fill.

As for the question Robert Carswell raises in the article - is it that they're employing so many federal officers these days, or is it more that they have to tick so many boxes about celebrating diversity that the likes of Ntiamoah looks far better to a recruitment officer than he really should?

Hat tip: View from the Right.
Posted by The Venerable 1st Earl of Cromer at 23:00
Labels: Crime, Immigration, Political correctness, United States'' about Michael that I know personally is truly Frightening to me that we americans rash always to judgment of others. He made a very bad and horible decision but that does not mean that every immigrant in this country is corrupt. Infact his actions in this tragic situation really does not amount to corruption and conflict of interest at all, and if you care to know,Michael was a Marine for 8 years of which he served 7 in overseas duties and honerably discharged before his current employment. He has serve this country well with all he had more than some ' non-immigrant americans with no conflict of interest and corruption in their genes'. What he has done, as horrible as it is, is no different than what goes on in this country every single day. Michael came to this country very young and could not have had that kind of exposure before then. Infact this act of horror does not happen in the country where he immigrated from many years ago.
You can be against immigration and immigrants all you want-that is your right and no one can take that from you, but you should also know that trashing the entire continent for an act which is a dailly routine in your own country and probably your backyard is very hypocritical.
Yes there is corruption in third world countries around the world, but don't we have corrupt leaders in this country? and and can you say that there is a country in the developed world today that is stainless of this charge, let me know please because that's where I would rather loved to reside, and I advise you to do the same.
I hope you will reconsider your words, maybe reply with a tonned down feelings until all the facts of this tragic and horrific encounter is before you.

Anonymous said...

I have served in the Bureau of Customs and Border protection with Mr. Ntiamoah. First of all you should get to know a person before you criticize his citizenship status or ability to do a certain job. This situation is unfortunate and tragic. It is a testament to someone making a poor choice to deal with in an even uglier reality of circumstances. Mr. Ntiamoah has served this country for many years as a former Marine who saw extensive combat action (that is how he suffered the third degree burns that you see in his facial portrait). He is a patriot who looks towards his American citizenship with pride. Let us pray for the souls of Mr. Ntiamoah, his wife, and her lover that he killed and show some level of remorse for the situation and its victims instead of questioning someone's ethnicity, country of origin or professional competence.

KennesawPatch said...

Hello, I am the editor of Kennesaw Patch, an online news source for Kennesaw, GA. I am interested in some background information about Michael Ntiamoah. For those of you who knew Michael Ntiamoah, please email me at gaetana.pipia@patch.com if you would like to share some additional information. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Anon #1 and Anon #2 appear to be the same person who seems more perturbed over a few typewritten words expressed as an opinion, other than the fact, that two people were shot to death by this now African-born murderer!

But that's O.K. because it was only about "making a poor choice"!?

Anonymous said...

oh hes a beauty, how would you like to see that coming in your bedroom window at 2;oo in the morning??? i would shit vermont quarried limestone, i know i would,

Anonymous said...

Michael Ntiamoah did not face serious combat nor was his face burned during any American war. What am reading from the posters is complete hogwash. Micheal was ever bit American though. These foreign born comments are unsavory. I hate people commenting on things they do not know for sure.

Unknown said...

i work with Niddy. He was my good buddy for 2 years a long time ago. We are buddies on FB but somehow i had no idea he was accused of these hideous crimes. I'm stunt. just finding out now. But please keep the hate fill comments out of this. He was just an American like any other American who made a really costly, desperate, poor judgement in settling a dispute. there is crime and there is punishment. so i guess, if he did it ,then he should face the LAW.

Anonymous said...

I grew up with Michael and he is a great human being. He was like a litle bother to me. This is as shocking to me as well and by all means we live in a society where there are laws to deal with items as such. Let's allow the law to do what it is intended for. On the other hand, comments about his nationality is irrelevant. Michael served this country and protected us all just like any other soldier. This is a domestic event and so let's allow the jsutice system to achieve what it is intended for and not distort this tragedy wih irrelevant info. My condolences to the family who lost loved ones and to those of us who lost Michael. Mike, we still love you.

Anonymous said...

He was never wounded in combat, or hurt overseas. His face was burned as a child or something like that. I served with him. We were not friends. He wasn't a hero, he was a regular guy. Came to the country, served it, then went to work for it. The main story here is...he executed one...and fired 30 times at another. Which means he reloaded. They shoulda just given him the needle.