AN ACR CAPT REPORTED LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH HIS COMPANY'S FAM AND LEO ADVISORY POLICY; RESULTING IN FAMS AND LEOS BEING BOARDED WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE FLT CREW AND FAILURE TO ADVISE THE FAMS AND LEOS OF THE OTHER'S PRESENCE.

Narrative

WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW FAM (FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL) BOARDING PROCEDURE THAT RECENTLY WENT INTO EFFECT. THE GATE AGENT DID NOT ADVISE ME OF FAMS ON THIS FLIGHT AT ANY TIME. THE FAMS TOLD US THEY WERE ONBOARD AS THEY BOARDED; OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE ONBOARD. WHEN I ASKED THE GATE AGENT; HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ANY FAMS; AND NEITHER DID THE OTHER AGENT WORKING THE FLIGHT. WE ALSO HAD A LEO (LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; ARMED). I TALKED WITH ONE OF THE FAMS AFTER THE FLIGHT; AND HE STATED HE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEO UNTIL INFORMED BY ME; AND THAT THEY HAD CHECKED IN WITH A GATE AGENT (WE DON'T KNOW WHICH AGENT; SINCE BOTH AGENTS WORKING THE FLIGHT AT CLOSEOUT STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT FAMS ONBOARD). THIS NEW FAM BOARDING PROCEDURE PUTS TOO MUCH DEPENDENCE ON THE GATE AGENT NOTIFYING THE CAPTAIN AND WAS A FAILURE ON THIS FLIGHT. HAD THE FAMS NOT IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES; PER THE OLD FAM BOARDING PROCEDURE: 1) I WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN THERE WERE ARMED MARSHALS ONBOARD. 2) THE FAMS WOULD HAVE NOT KNOWN THERE WAS AN ARMED LEO BEHIND THEM. BOTH OF THESE ARE POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE.