Robert Cekada, a 30-year legislation enforcement veteran who has been with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for the previous twenty years, has been appointed Deputy Director of the ATF—the second highest rating official on the company.
Earlier than his latest Deputy Director appointment, Cekada had served because the Govt Assistant Director of Operations since September 2022. In that place, he oversaw ATF’s Workplace of Regulatory Operations, Workplace of Discipline Operations and the Workplace of Intelligence Operations. He started his profession with ATF in 2005 as a Particular Agent within the Baltimore Discipline Division’s Hyattsville Discipline Workplace, engaged on the Regional Space Gang Enforcement Process Power.
Earlier than that, Cekada served with the New York Police Division specializing in anti-gang crime and the Metropolis of Plantation Police Division in Broward County, Florida, the place he served with the Patrol Division and Particular Weapons and Ways (SWAT) Crew.
Some pro-gun teams, together with the Nationwide Taking pictures Sports activities Basis (NSSF), have been happy with Cekada’s appointment. Based on NSSF, as a Particular Agent-in-Cost, Cekada has been on the bottom with the firearm trade to advertise public consciousness to cease the unlawful sale of weapons and has a profession historical past of working with the firearm trade to make sure law-abiding residents can train their Second Modification rights.
“Deputy Director Cekada has the expertise, knowledge and respect of his colleagues to successfully lead the women and men of the ATF,” Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vp and basic counsel, mentioned in a information launch on the appointment. “Deputy Director Cekada respects the Second Modification and understands that the firearm trade isn’t the ‘enemy’ however a helpful accomplice that assists ATF in its core mission of combating violent crime. Firearm retailers are on the entrance traces, serving to to stop the prison acquisition of firearms. They’re an important supply of data to ATF particular brokers on unlawful straw buying of firearms.”
NSSF has partnered with the ATF for 1 / 4 of a century on the Don’t Lie for the Different Man program to warn the general public that illegally straw-purchasing firearms for somebody who can’t legally buy their very own firearm, or doesn’t wish to be related to the sale of a firearm, is a severe federal crime that carries a penalty as much as 15 years in jail and a $250,000 effective.
NSSF additionally companions with ATF in one other program referred to as Operation Safe Retailer to assist enhance safety at firearm retailers with the intention to deter or forestall thefts and burglaries of these firearm retailers. As a part of that program, NSSF matches ATF reward presents as much as $5,000 for info resulting in the arrest and conviction of suspects of these crimes.
“NSSF seems ahead to working with Deputy Director Cekada on behalf of the firearm trade and restoring a mutually respectful and constructive dialogue on shared objectives that may permit our members to thrive economically and assist to make our communities safer,” Keane mentioned.
