Malachi Harney

Malachi Lawrence Harney (11 June 1895 – 24 February 1984) was an American federal law enforcement investigator for the United States Department of the Treasury and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and the coauthor of several nonfiction books related to law enforcement with John C. Cross. During the Prohibition era, Harney was Eliot Ness's boss at Treasury, responsible for the arrest and capture of Al Capone. Later in his career, Harney was one of the strongest advocates of anti-drug policies in the United States, publishing articles and giving speeches espousing the drug war.

The historical consensus today maintains that M.L. Harney was a racist who propagated racially motivated policies in law enforcement, especially in the creation and maintenance of anti-marijuana practices, and the rejection of black police officers in America.

Shortly afterward, during World War I, Harney was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and fought in Europe.

Law enforcement

Prohibition era In 1920, Harney joined the Bureau of Internal Revenue as a dry agent. By 1925, Harney was already an assistant director, or "Dry Administrator," in the Bureau of Prohibition, responsible for all federal agents in Minnesota. His duties involved investigating all violations of the Volstead Act. By 1930, Harney was the director of the bureau's Northwest District, including all of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.

At the Chicago prohibition office, Harney oversaw Eliot Ness and the other Untouchables and dry agents at Treasury and was responsible for the arrest and capture of Al Capone. Harney intervened when the Capone squad was disbanded after the trial that initially sent Capone to jail, and Ness desperately attempted to keep his squad together. Harney wrote to headquarters on behalf of Ness:

"I do not need to elaborate on the situation which confronts me in Chicago. I have an ambition to make a real and lasting impression on the hoodlums who have monopolized the illicit liquor industry in this vicinity, and I need the assistance of every capable Investigator that I can acquire." After Capone was convicted, Harney promoted Ness, who moved into a corner office of the Customs Building in Chicago. In September 1932, Harney's brother, James Gerald Harney, who was a dry agent under Harney's command, was shot and killed during an investigation in Tamarack, Minnesota.

Bureau of Narcotics

When the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was created in 1930 and Harry J. Anslinger was made its commissioner, Harney was appointed to be Anslinger's staff assistant, while still maintaining his duties at Prohibition until his replacement was found.

In 1936, Harney became assistant commissioner for the entire agency. In 1951, Harney advocated for what he called "extra duty pay," for all federal investigative officers and agents for time undercover. He testified in support of the Civil Service Commission recommendation 21.

By 1952, Harney was special assistant to Treasury Secretary John W. Snyder, responsible for housecleaning the department.

Harney retired from the Treasury in 1956.

The six basic motivations for an informant in law enforcement were identified as: Fear Revenge Perverse Egotistical Mercenary Repentance or desire to reform He served in this position until his resignation in 1960.