Friday, April 27, 2012

AP source: Secret Service tightens conduct policy Eds: APNewsNow. Will be updated.

Seeking to recover from a prostitution scandal, the Secret Service is barring agents from taking foreign nationals back to their hotel rooms, visiting "non-reputable" establishments and drinking alcohol within 10 hours of going on duty.

An official briefed on the code of conduct changes says officers will also be instructed to drink only moderately. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the changes that have not yet been announced.


The changes come about two weeks after a prostitution scandal erupted at a hotel in Cartagena, Colombia, where officers were staying in advance of President Barack Obama's arrival for a South American summit.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a Senate panel this week that the incident appeared to be isolated.