[Infowarrior] - TSA Screeners Bypass Checkpoints

Thu Sep 18 11:41:02 UTC 2008

Airport screeners bypassing security

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=99941&catid=339

DENVER – A new policy lets airport screeners at Denver International  
Airport bypass security screening checkpoints that passengers have to  
go through.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rolled out the new  
uniforms and new screening policy at airports nationwide on Sept. 11.

The new policy says screeners can arrive for work and walk behind  
security lines without any of their belongings examined or X-rayed.

"Lunch or a bomb, you can walk right through with it," said Mike Boyd,  
an aviation consultant in Evergreen. "This is a major security issue."

At DIA, 9NEWS videotaped a dozen TSA screeners walk through a side  
gate and enter the sterile area of the airport carrying backpacks,  
purses and lunch boxes. Nothing was screened.

Sources tell 9Wants to Know, the reason for the security change may be  
tied to the new uniforms and badges.

The old, white TSA uniforms had yellow cloth badges sewn on them.

The new, blue uniforms have metal badges that set off alarms when  
screeners go through the checkpoints. Sources say the TSA is worried  
that the screeners will remove the badges while going through security  
and that they'll get lost or stolen.

The TSA says that is not the reason for the policy change.

"We have to put our resources where we believe the risk is greatest.  
Does it really make sense for the Transportation Security officers to  
spend time screening each other rather than focusing on the unknown  
out there?" asked Carrie Harmon, TSA public affairs manager.

The TSA says the new policy is part of a risk-based security screening  
process where there are multiple layers of security.

"We have a finite amount of resources and we allocate those where we  
think the risk is greatest," said Harmon. "It's based on intelligence;  
it's based on knowledge of our people and our processes."

The TSA says its employees have background checks before they are  
hired. TSA policy says employees are supposed to report any other  
arrest, including an alcohol related arrest, within 24 hours or, due  
to circumstances beyond their control, as soon as possible after that.

An Aviation Director Access Security Program team at airports can also  
search any employee in the airport at any time.

"TSA employees are subject to random, unpredictable screening," said  
Harmon.

Critics think it's important to also physically screen the TSA workers  
every day.

"A background check means nothing, absolutely nothing," said Boyd.  
"And a random screen is like getting an IRS audit. It means I can get  
through 80 percent of the time. How many people take a chance on that?  
It's the same thing."

Harmon says while it's possible that a TSA worker could smuggle  
something behind security, they are security professionals and deserve  
to be treated that way.

However, two TSA workers in Atlanta were arrested this year for  
smuggling drugs and cash past screening checkpoints onto airplanes.  
Other screeners nationwide have been caught stealing from passengers.

At DIA this year, a screener got caught bringing a gun through the  
checkpoint. Under the TSA's current policy, that gun would have gone  
undetected inside the airport.

While screeners won't be subjected to searches, airline pilots will  
still have to go through security screening checkpoints.

Some passengers were surprised at the new policy for screeners.

"I think that this kind of thing is going to encourage the possibility  
of foul play. I think it's a real big mistake," said Jim Casey of  
Minneapolis. "I think it creates, especially when it becomes public  
knowledge, it becomes a really ridiculous loophole."

The new blue uniforms also have patches on the shoulder that depict a  
picture of an eagle, the twin towers, nine stars and 11 stripes.