COMMISSION SENSITIVE

UNCLASSIFIED

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Event: Richard (Rick) A. McFeely, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI WFO

Type of event: Interview

Date: November 5, 2003 9/11 Law Enforcement Privacy

Special Access Issues: None

Prepared by: Mark Bittinger

Team Number: 8
Location: FBI Washington Field Office, Washington, DC
Participants - Non-Commission: Richard McFeely
Participants - Commission: Kevin Shaeffer; Mark Bittinger

UNCLAS
1. Rick McFeely's Background: He joined the FBI in 19·99. In January 2000 he was assigned to
the WFO. He was leading a drug squad on 9/11. He works on the JTIF (IT squad) and has
experience with gang and drug squads. \.

2. Events on 9/11: During the' day on 9/11 he was executing search warrants. Rumors were
generating quickly. A bombing at the State Department, a 'fire on the Mall, a plane hit the
Capitol Building. McFeely was the acting Assistant Special. Agent in Charge (ASAC) at the
WFO, leaving at around 9 or 10 p.m., so as not to burn out. 'He was the on-scene commander
arriving at the Pentagon at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12., relieving John Kerr, who McFeely
had dispatched to the Pentagon on 9/11. McFeely remained the day shift on-scene commander
until being by Kerr on either 9114 or 9/15.1 'wasthe night shift on-scene
commander.

3. Events on 9/12: He met the Ie "who was extremely busy at the time." Then he went to the
ER T response vehicle.

McFeely said that "things went very well here [at the WFO]." "Obviously it was chaotic."

3 priorities:
1. ERTs
2. Morgue, and getting it set up
3. Security, get out those who did not belong there. Security was poor. Reporters and news
crews were right up against the building. So many people running around, it was chaos. But the
same thing would happen today, because of the chaos and the legions of people running around.
No way to secure the site efficiently and effectively. Lt. Bill Stoudt with the DPS worked very.
closely with the FBI. Stoudt and his colleagues "were phenomenal, they did everything we
asked."
 COMMISSION SENSITIVE
UNCLASSIFIED

DPS and ACPD established perimeter at FBI's request, then DPS set up inner perimeter when
fire trucks were done.

The focus was on the Pentagon entirely. It was a localized response and New York City was not
a factor. All the ER Ts were sent to the Pentagon.

McFeely called the JOC, who in tum called the HRT and SWAT. A SWAT team was deployed
to the Pentagon on 9/13 to provide security for the evidence chain of custody.

U.S. Marshals offered agents on 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles.

USSS were great, providing a badging system. The badges they used had an IMF watermark on
them.

Discussion occurred regarding the reconstruction of the plane and the decision not to continue
with the reconstruction. McFeely indicated is happiness in this decision.

4. ATF: "A tremendous amount of agency friction and jockeying." The A TF set up shop right
next to the ICP. They had no supervisor on-scene until later. Then things improved. But the
AFT engaged in two days of interference. When the FBI ASAC (Art Eberhart) showed up things
deteriorated again.

5. ER T and US&R: gradual integration, shoring-up still required.

The military was active with the morgue and with the transport of the bodies. The handling of
the bodies was very, very professional.

6. NCRS: Established in 1998. Bomb techs, fire liaison, SMEs from 24 agencies. LA and NYC
have similar squads. DC atarget-rich-environment: 1300 government buildings, ?7? embassies.

7. Lessons Learned:

(1) Needed more than 1 supervisor on-scene. A supervisor was needed for security, in order
to coordinate with the police department. Need a security component, which is now
incorporated in exercises.
(2) Need to incorporate chaplains, EAP and CISM for the victims and the witnesses.
(3) "Thank God for PenRen!" PenRen was great, but need to find a way to procure needed
items, given the constraints of FEMA purchases for other Federal agencies. Need some
sort of blanket purchase order capability. FEMA already has contracts for US&R teams.
(4) Decontamination tents: is this a duplication or a needed redundancy. Both FEMA and
the FBI have decon tents.
(5) Security component. "Things became a lot more cohesive once everyone was on-scene.
(6)' It was "crucial to have Combs and David Dawson with theK'."
(7) Ie and FBI liaison at the JOe was "hard." "Things became more cohesive once IC was
reestablished on-scene."
(8) "JOe functioned beautifully. Info was timely and assistance was helpful."
(9) McFeely should have notified the IC of his presence.

COMMISSION SENSITIVE 2
UNCLASSIFIED