Weblink to Press Release, 
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-special-agent-awarded-outstanding-federal-law-enforcement-employee-award

HSI San Francisco ASAC Receives 2014 WIFLE Public Service Award 12/29/2014

Some might say destiny steered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) for San Francisco Kit Welsh toward her current career. Welsh’s mother, a stay at home mom, stepped out of the house in her mid-40s to pursue work in law enforcement and remained active in the field until her retirement.

“I saw firsthand the opportunities for adventure and the work ethic and determination that law enforcement requires,” recalls Welsh, who is a recipient of the 2014 Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) Public Service Award. In selecting Welsh for the honor, WIFLE cited her long commitment and sustained superior performance as a law enforcement agent and manager, as well as her work as a role model and mentor for other women seeking to pursue careers in this demanding arena.

“Kit has been an exceptional law enforcement officer for the past 27 years, and since joining ICE in 2003, she has excelled as an investigator, manager and mentor,” said Tatum King, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Francisco.


Welsh, who grew up in Seattle, said: “I knew instinctively from very early on that I wanted a career as a criminal investigator, and I remain similarly committed to doing everything I can to encourage other women who have similar ambitions.” In the early 1990s, Welsh, who was starting her family while working for legacy agency U.S. Customs, drafted the agency’s first part-time employment program for agents, which was based on successful plans adopted at other federal agencies. Based on her experiences, Welsh offered assistance to other female agents to help them to maintain their careers in law enforcement while caring for their young children.

In 2010, as ASAC for HSI Portland, Welsh laid the groundwork for the move to a new office, coordinating closely with numerous other agencies and stakeholders. In addition, she was quick to recognize the leadership potential of others and ensured they were promoted accordingly. A strong believer in the benefits of training and development for agents, Welsh has always been able to find ways for a deserving agent to participate in a requested program, even during the toughest financial times.


“If Kit thinks something should happen, she will go to the mat to make it happen,” said Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) supervisory special agent Melissa Cooley of Tucson, who thanks to Welsh’s support, participated in the agency’s year-long Executive Leadership Program. “She was always there suggesting new ways that I could satisfy objectives and help me get the most out of the program.”

In 2009, Welsh, working with OPR, took on the assignment of traveling to HSI offices throughout the world, conducting management inspections assessing compliance with ICE policies and offering her recommendations for process and procedure improvement. As ASAC for HSI San Jose, she drew upon that experience, overseeing investigations that have resulted in numerous criminal arrests, indictments and convictions throughout HSI San Francisco’s far reaching jurisdiction, according to acting King.

Thanks to Welsh’s management of HSI San Francisco’s Devil Horns gang investigation and takedown, 31 defendants were indicted on federal racketeering charges related to their involvement in Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), nearly all of whom were eventually convicted.

“In the end, it’s all about balance,” ASAC Welsh said. “Having rich and fulfilling lives outside of the office is what helps motivate us both as parents and as law enforcement professionals to strive to keep our neighborhoods and our communities safe.”