WASHINGTON — A Homeland Security Department employee has been placed on leave for wearing a Halloween costume that drew complaints from other workers as racially insensitive — even as it won "most original" honors from managers at an agency party.
An inquiry is under way to determine proper sanctions in the incident, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Tuesday. He declined to criticize Julie Myers, assistant secretary of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, who had apologized on Friday.
The unidentified employee's costume of dreadlocks, dark makeup and prison stripes was deemed by Myers and two other managers as the "most original" at the party. After receiving complaints from some employees, Myers e-mailed an apology to her staff, saying a few costumes at the party were inappropriate and offensive.
Myers posed for photos with the employee, but they were discarded, ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said....
