TSO Gun Incident
Several bloggers have commented on our blog over the past few days on an incident that involved an officer showing up for work with an unloaded gun. We’ve read these comments and worked hard to get as much information as possible. After turning every stone and working with privacy experts and anyone else that would listen about our need to tell the whole story, the bottom line is that we simply cannot.
The federal Privacy Act prohibits us from providing any details about what happened, how it happened or any disciplinary action we took. It’s unfortunate because there are always two sides to every story.
What we can say is that anyone that shows up with a gun is held accountable, officer or passenger.
Christopher
TSA EoS Blog Team
Labels: Gripes and Grins, legal issues
posted by Bob at
11:12 AM
101 Comments:
Christopher,
This post is unbelievable! Don´t you already know that public opinion is essential, and that you need our support to effectively work against terrorism? How do you expect to engage the public by hiding behind arguments that information is "classified"?
You would have been MUCH better off if you had not posted anything, ignoring messages. You seem to have no problems ignoring the many requests for frontal full body images...
May 2, 2008 12:28 PM
Well can you tell us about the Federal Flight Deck Officer who fired off a round in the cockpit last month???!!!!
May 2, 2008 12:33 PM
I don't see any reason why you can't describe the situation without revealing the TSO's name or the airport where the incident occurred.
May 2, 2008 12:39 PM
Another TSA attempt to deflect the issue of not posting MMW WBI images.
Remember, they are ok for pre-school age kids.
Not going to work!
May 2, 2008 12:39 PM
OK, so you've come up with an excuse for not addressing this issue.
Now, what's your excuse for not posting the frontal view of the MMW image?
May 2, 2008 12:42 PM
Well there you go.
If it was a normal citizen we would have every detail including what his 3rd grade teacher wrote about his ability to play with others.
May 2, 2008 12:48 PM
I know the TSO, the neighborhood and the reasons he did not leave the firearm in his vehicle. You are correct in that it is a real shame that you can not fully discuss the incident and all of the factors. What many do not understand is it is the local police on site who arrect, detain and/or site people for firearms violations and in many states it is not a tree hugging capital offence to own a gun.
The easy way for the local FSD to have handled this would have been to terminate the individual and give no thought to the events surrounding it. The FSD, in my opinion, made the right call and for the first time in a long time really looked at everything. Again, anyone can take the easy way, this was not.
May 2, 2008 12:49 PM
What we can say is that anyone that shows up with a gun is held accountable, officer or passenger.
It's just that some people are held less accountable than others.
And then you wonder why we don't trust you.
May 2, 2008 12:54 PM
This is what one of his fellow DEN TSO's has posted:
"He was driving and his vehicle broke down. He had the item in his vehicle which was towed. He took the item out of his vehicle and put it in his bag that he takes to work. He reported for work and it was in the bag."
I know that the person that wrote that is a DEN TSO.
If he didn't have a concealed carry permit, then under the above circumstances it would appear he also violated Colorado Sec. 18-12-105.
May 2, 2008 12:54 PM
Please explain why the privacy act only applies to your coverups and not when you report something about a citizen by means of bragging about your ability to catch water bottles.
May 2, 2008 1:04 PM
OK, if you won't address that, how about discussing the latest news item where federal air marshals are being kept off flights due to their names appearing on various 'do not fly' and 'terrorist watch' lists?
May 2, 2008 1:06 PM
"it is not a tree hugging capital offence to own a gun."
Why make such a bigoted statement?
I have heard no one complain about him owning a gun. It is his actions with the gun that people have good reason to be upset with.
Also, you did not hesitate to post a _video_ of an SLF (self loading freight = passenger) who had a run in with your "officers".
Now, you hide behind a wall of secrecy when one of your own is invovled.
I call bull.
May 2, 2008 1:09 PM
Sandra,
What I'm saying is that we'd love to tell the whole story, leaving nothing out. We're not hiding behind anything, we're being precluded from saying anything else by the Privacy Act.
We're more frustrated with this than anyone out there can imagine.
And by the way trollkiller, when (not if since it happens about twoce per day) it is a passenger and not an employee, we do not include their name either.
Christopher
EOS Blog Team
May 2, 2008 1:10 PM
Ok Christopher, I understand that you are getting stonewalled by your people. Sucks don't it.
Let me help you out.
Google Results Note you may have to look at cached pages.
Story one
Story two
Story three
I think it is odd that the TSA will have a press release every minor "victory", yet failed to have a press release for this.
BTW I have a bet going with my wife that you won't post this.
May 2, 2008 1:10 PM
The easy way for the local FSD to have handled this would have been to terminate the individual and give no thought to the events surrounding it. The FSD, in my opinion, made the right call and for the first time in a long time really looked at everything. Again, anyone can take the easy way, this was not.
Please understand ... I don't know anything about the incident, other than what was reported in the press.
But if you're praising the FSD for exercising common sense and discretion in this case ... then why can't TSA use discretion and common sense when dealing with individual passenger screening? This blog is filled with plenty of examples of TSOs who say "we must follow the rules, no exceptions", even when common sense would dictate otherwise.
On the surface, it smacks of hypocrisy; TSO uses zero-tolerance with passengers who violate the rules, but plenty of tolerance with its own staff. I'm sure I'd think differently if I knew the details about this case. But all I have is what I have.
Perception creates its own realities. A perception of arbitrariness on the part of TSA won't help TSA to create the "soothing" environment for screening that Checkpoint Engagement is supposed to be trying to achieve.
May 2, 2008 1:11 PM
MANY bloggers have commented on the fact that our luggage is vulnerable to tampering under your current procedures.
The money and trouble that this has caused us travelers made national headlines.
You gave your first dog (and pony) show that week. You still have not meaningfully addressed that problem.
..and yes, where are those frontal full body images?
,>)
May 2, 2008 1:14 PM
I want to thank you for this post.
I had begun to suspect that the whole TSA blog was just a smokescreen; something done to give the appearance of communication without any real desire for a real dialog with the traveling public.
Now you have confirmed my suspicions. It will be easier to continue reading posts here for the entertainment value without the delusion that TSA has any intention of improving either its public image or its thuggish behavior.
Thanks for clearing things up.
T-the-B at FlyerTalk
May 2, 2008 1:30 PM
Anonymous said...
I know the TSO, the neighborhood and the reasons he did not leave the firearm in his vehicle. You are correct in that it is a real shame that you can not fully discuss the incident and all of the factors. What many do not understand is it is the local police on site who arrect, detain and/or site people for firearms violations and in many states it is not a tree hugging capital offence to own a gun.
You imply he brought in the weapon because he did not want to leave it in his car where it could be stolen and fall into a criminal's hands. Good for him, I have no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is the fact he KNOWINGLY bypassed the metal detectors and brought the weapon into a "secure" area.
If any of the unwashed masses had done this our name would be released and we would be facing CRIMINAL charges.
79-Year-Old Woman With Gun Stopped By TSA Screeners
Or my personal favorite, man forgets he has a gun, makes it through security. He realizes he has the weapon and RETURNS to security. He was CHARGED with a CRIME. Yet this TSO was let of with a hand slap.
Further proof that the TSA thinks it is above the law?
May 2, 2008 1:34 PM
Christopher, Bob, is the TSA just stuck on stupid or what? Do you really think, as a person or as an agency that we're really going to accept another "trust us" kind of an answer to this? You say you can't tell us. Then tell us exactly why you can't tell us. Point to the specific section of either your regulations or to the Privacy Act that keeps you from discussing the incident in general terms.
I know, as I have managed people and sensitive personnel situations before, that one walks a fine line about disclosure of personally identifiable information, particularly in a public forum. I personally understand that you may not be at liberty to disclose the precise nature of the actions taken with regard to the individual TSO involved. What I find difficult to swallow, however, is that as a governmental agency that you cannot disclose to us that a) you have a disciplinary process; b) that you are required to follow the disciplinary process; c) what the steps in that process are; and finally d) what step of the process you are in with respect to this particular incident.
It's actions like this one and attempts to bury them like so many presents in a cat box that make the TSA the government agency people like and trust even less than the IRS.
May 2, 2008 1:44 PM
haa i love it. this post is so diplomatic and non-informative, proving you are trying to hide something.
this is along the same line as the nipple ring post, highly uninformative, very short, afraid to provide evidence of the security organization not operating in an appropriate manner. your PR work is not balanced. when you try to deflect obvious downfalls with short articles, then you have articles that are lengthy trying to build up public approval for the process.
i applaud you beautiful word-smithing, now please tell us something other than saying that the information is "classified"
May 2, 2008 1:58 PM
Steve Scottsdale said:
"I don't see any reason why you can't describe the situation without revealing the TSO's name or the airport where the incident occurred."
The TSO's name is Alvin Crabtree. Both his name and his picture have been all over the internet.
May 2, 2008 2:03 PM
And by the way trollkiller, when (not if since it happens about twoce per day) it is a passenger and not an employee, we do not include their name either.
Christopher
EOS Blog Team
Twoce??? New word... I like it ;-)
This is a bit of semantics, the TSA may not release the name, but the Airport Authority or the police do. Funny when your guy got busted only ONE news station found out about it.
Come on if that does not scream cover up, nothing does.
May 2, 2008 2:08 PM
winstonsmith said...
Christopher, Bob, is the TSA just stuck on stupid or what?
That made me snort, thanks Winston.
The TSA has no need to hide the man's name. It is already out there.
May 2, 2008 2:17 PM
trollkiller: "Further proof that the TSA thinks it is above the law?"
No, I imagine TSA is more in the mindset of Sly Stalone's Judge Dredd: "I AM the law!"
Remember that under TSA's security theater model, the TSOs are, by definition, completely secure and totally competent. Therefore, anything a TSO does MUST make us more secure.
May 2, 2008 2:25 PM
Bob/Christopher:
Bloggers haven't commented on the gun incident; your readers have (until, of course, you posted this today). A blogger is one who blogs: who posts blog entries to a blog. When people leave comments in response, they aren't being bloggers.
May 2, 2008 2:27 PM
"I had begun to suspect that the whole TSA blog was just a smokescreen; Now you have confirmed my suspicions."
Mine were confirmed when they ran the earlier dog story instead of addressing other issues.
Then the whole nonsense on the MMW images followed by the puppy crap...
...I'd be amused; if they weren't sucking up my money and giving too much authority to too many people not fit to wield it.
Will the new uniforms really have badges? How much more will that inflate some egos.
To see this happen in America. These are sad times comrade.
Well, I guess it is all worth it if it makes sheeple feel safe from 'terrists' Like they felt safe on 9/10.
May 2, 2008 2:34 PM
Since you brought up the Privacy Act does that mean TSA will comply with it's rules and regulations when dealing with citizens and other travelers?
Sure seems like a "one way street" to me.
Use the law only when it benefits the agency, thumb your nose at it when dealing with the public.
May 2, 2008 2:42 PM
Jim said -
Please understand ... I don't know anything about the incident, other than what was reported in the press.
But if you're praising the FSD for exercising common sense and discretion in this case ... then why can't TSA use discretion and common sense when dealing with individual passenger screening? This blog is filled with plenty of examples of TSOs who say "we must follow the rules, no exceptions", even when common sense would dictate otherwise.
On the surface, it smacks of hypocrisy; TSO uses zero-tolerance with passengers who violate the rules, but plenty of tolerance with its own staff. I'm sure I'd think differently if I knew the details about this case. But all I have is what I have.
Perception creates its own realities. A perception of arbitrariness on the part of TSA won't help TSA to create the "soothing" environment for screening that Checkpoint Engagement is supposed to be trying to achieve.
Ah, the press, we all know they are 100% - As I understand it the individual had the gun and had it in his car. Because of a major storm he had to have his car towed and it was in a very bad area of town, if you know where I am going here. He took the gun from his car and placed it in his bag he brings to work vice leaving it and assuring it would be stolen, then he was able to get home. He didn't get home until very late (remember, a storm) and had to be at work very early (like 0430 or so). He simply forgot until he set the bag down at the xray and then remembered and self reported. The local PD looked at everything and THEY DECLINED TO ARREST / cite!
I understood the initial reaction was a termination but that he appealed the decision and when all of the circumstances were reviewed by the FSD he was retained but certinly did pay a price, which he didn't share. With that said I heard some say 2 weeks suspended, no pay??
As for how is everyone else treated? It depends on the state. If this had happened in NYC or within the District of Columbia it would have been very bad for the individual because of the local CCW laws. In some states, such as TX it seems everyone has a CCW. I don't know in this case but know the local PD declined.
Believe it or not in many cases almost everyone who shows at a checkoint with a firearm says they forgot it was in the bag. I don't know how many had the same type of events happen as this young man but that is what they say. Most are not hauled off and if they are it is not TSA who does it nor do the local authorities do it on TSA orders. They do it IAW their local / state laws at the officer's descretion. When it comes to a firearm I have seen all kinds of standards but again, they are state driven. The TSA can go after the individual on a regulatory violation for a firearm at the checkpoint but there is a lot of area within the reg.
Regardless, it will be debated but I agree it is nice to see that the new FSD is willing to take a look at everything without simply firing him. I came to DEN from elsewhere and also spent time on the national deployment force. I have seen many operations and it is a plesent change to see there is a process. I do see why some are getting upset but also feel many really do not know what the real procedure is and who does what. TSA can arrest no one except for maybe a FAM under certain conditions. Certinly not a TSO regardless of what anyone says.
May 2, 2008 3:45 PM
Trollkiller - You imply he brought in the weapon because he did not want to leave it in his car where it could be stolen and fall into a criminal's hands. Good for him, I have no problem with that.
What I do have a problem with is the fact he KNOWINGLY bypassed the metal detectors and brought the weapon into a "secure" area.
Not true my friend - he did not bypass, he reported it himself as soon as he realized what he had done.
May 2, 2008 3:48 PM
If this had been a regular citizen we'd know everything about him including his shoe size.
Why can't you simply tell the story without names or locations if privacy is that big a deal.
Every time there is a post to this blog it seems like it's the TSA saying "We can't show you this" or "We can't tell you this", what was the point of having this blog again if all you're using it to say is "We can't tell you anything, just trust us."
May 2, 2008 4:19 PM
This actually partially answers one of the questions from my list. Supposing a terrorist with no record tries to infiltrate the TSA or some TSO becomes disgruntled and becomes a terrorist, he can indeed freely and easily bypass security and deliver dangerous items such as bombs or firearms in the supposedly sterile area. So, what measures do you plan to implement that will ensure that the airplanes are secure from the TSOs? Will you screen them daily as they go to work? Will that include frontal images of them in the MMW?
May 2, 2008 4:21 PM
Ok, I will give you a pass in not revealing what happened to that TSO. But a big agency like the TSA must have written procedures as to what is supposed to happen in cases like this. I know in the military, if something is ZERO tolerance, that is what is meant. Can you tell us what your policy is, when an employee commits a wrong, or is it just as vague as your policies for the traveling public?
May 2, 2008 4:48 PM
this is actually a really helpful post to me :)
clarified a bunch of stuff.
The TSA enforces zero tolerance but doesn't follow it
The TSA refuses us privacy but gives it to its employees
want me to go on? how bout one more
The TSO's don't feel safe leaving there belongings open to being stolen, but expect us to and claim its not there problem.
The TSA's biggest problem though at this point is the blog team. you guys are horrible. You are really making things worse. Your like the keystone cops of propaganda. I can't believe my tax dollars have been spent on this.
BTW if your gun toting TSO brother is entitled to his privacy and you can't tell us anything then maybe maybe you should discipline the other TSO's who are. Your not even being consistent on enforcement to your own employees. Why? because not telling us anything is just a coverup.
May 2, 2008 7:00 PM
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! What a good one! Privacy act issues? Playing that card huh?
That's pretty rich considering the fact that you refuse to abide by privacy act rules with your illegal collection of passenger data.
May 2, 2008 8:18 PM
You can see by this public record the TSO in question lost his airport ID for 30 days for bringing the gun to a secure area. According to that document it was the airport that suspended him, not the TSA.
May 2, 2008 8:51 PM
Regarding - Ok, I will give you a pass in not revealing what happened to that TSO. But a big agency like the TSA must have written procedures as to what is supposed to happen in cases like this. I know in the military, if something is ZERO tolerance, that is what is meant. Can you tell us what your policy is, when an employee commits a wrong, or is it just as vague as your policies for the traveling public?
________________________________
There are very few things that are automatic termination under the management directives. FSD's have huge amounts of flexibility but are to consult with TSA field counsel and HR on anything above a reprimand. As for a zero tolerance, well I to spent many years in the military (Go Navy) and zero tolerance did not always result in a discharge, which is what most seem to think should have happened here. It did seem to result in a dicipline action to include a possible demotion, lost wages, restriction to quarters. It sounds to me like this individual was suspended, lost wages, and is likely on a last chance agreement which is kind of like a suspended bust in the military. So in comparison it sounds pretty close.
Someone spoke of the different state laws, it is almost too much to explain but it is very inconsistent in who can do what. As for my understanding, no gov employee is allowed to have a firearm on gov property, except a LEO type. This would include off site offices, and certainly the checkpoint. However, some states have actually passed laws which state that no employer can keep you from being able to have your firearm in your car, even on the employer's property. In AZ you can have a personal tazer but if you fly from Phoenix to NYC it is a deadly weapon and you can be arrested.....again.....nuts.
It sounds like the employee had done something which was out of the ordinary in moving the firearm from his car to a bag but had good reason, was running on very little sleep, and if retained was very likely a top notch employee in all other regards. It also sounds like he was suspended w/o pay and may be facing other regulatory charges but I am not sure everything has to result in a termination. It sounds to me as though a senior manager looked at all of the information to include that which we can only speculate on and made a decision to give the individual a last chance.
I also know if an individual/ passenger shows up at a checkpoint and has a firearm in their bag there are several things that go into what the LEO's do in most cases: is it loaded, is there a round chambered, do they have a CCW. In most cases I have seen if the have a valid CCW they have several options, none of which allow the weapon to pass through and none which send them to jail and most are cleared to fly. Depending on the state they seem only to be arrested if they do not have a permit or there is a specific law regarding firearms at the airport----yes---not all airports have such a law.
I don't think TSA posting this has 2 hoots to do with the MMW image issue but more the fact it was on several conspiracy blogs so TSA had to say something. Regardless of what we think of TSA there is a lot of information which an employer is not allowed to speak about or comment on, however others can say what they want.
May 2, 2008 9:58 PM
Regarding - trollkiller said...
You can see by this public record the TSO in question lost his airport ID for 30 days for bringing the gun to a secure area. According to that document it was the airport that suspended him, not the TSA.
_____________________________________
As Paul Harvey says---now for the rest of the story - yes, Sherlock, the airport suspended his SIDA badge / airport access for 30-days. All that does is not allow him into the sterile area or SIDA for 30-days. It in no way keeps him or any other from working off site such as in the FSD offices. I am sure in an operation the size of Denver's there are tons of things he could have done which would not have required airport access.
I am very confident that he was also suspended without pay for 2 weeks from the TSA. This will also hurt him for promotion, and pay. However it would not kill him.
May 2, 2008 10:06 PM
CBGB said - The TSA's biggest problem though at this point is the blog team. you guys are horrible. You are really making things worse. Your like the keystone cops of propaganda. I can't believe my tax dollars have been spent on this.
Hells Bells man - if that is how you feel stop hitting the reply and if enough feel this way Bob will be out of a job, the blog will be dead and you can move on to UFO cover ups.
May 2, 2008 10:09 PM
Christopher, I have extensive experience with the Privacy Act. Let me help you...
1. The Privacy Act protects release of certain (but not all) employee information, unless it is subpoenaed by a court order. Even then, a judge may seal the records if he/she chooses. So, any internal records pertaining to Crabtree's job performance or disciplinary actions for this incident (I'll assume for the moment that there was some adverse action.) is normally protected.
2. The fact the TSA screener Crabtree illegally brought a firearm into a secure area of an airport is in the public domain. The two police blotter reports posted on the Denver Fox 31 website were properly obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
3. Like most court records, any civil action against Crabtree in the TSA Kangaroo court, including the judgment and fine amount, is a public record, just like anybody who got convicted of the civil crime of speeding. So, anyone so inclined could easily (despite the well-oiled TSA stonewall) obtain this information.
So, get it right next time, OK? Don't try to hide behind your SSI and Privacy Act claims when you people rub our noses in it on a daily basis.
Fess up -- did you REALLY think you could make us forget about the electronic strip search machine? BTW, we're still waiting for the full frontal pictures.
One final comment: The "You're stuck on stupid" quote was said by LTG Russel Honore, US Army (Retired), during a news conference. General Honore was the Corps of Engineers Commander in charge of the Katrina and Wilma recovery operations.
May 2, 2008 10:29 PM
Hey Dave:
One final comment: The "You're stuck on stupid" quote was said by LTG Russel Honore, US Army (Retired), during a news conference. General Honore was the Corps of Engineers Commander in charge of the Katrina and Wilma recovery operations.
Funny, I just threw that "stuck on stupid" line in my post of this morning because it seemed to fit in so nicely given all the manure the good people at TSA have been spreading around and trying to pass off as truth in the past few posts. Been saying it kind of independently for years -- think I may have picked it up from one of my high school teachers years (ok, decades *sigh*) ago.
Good post though... And yes, where are those Front and Back MMW pictures anyway?
May 2, 2008 11:07 PM
Give me a break. He should be fired. If anyone should know the rules, it should be him.
May 3, 2008 12:44 AM
Wow, what an entry! Talk about puppy poo . . . and you had the audacity to play the Privacy Act Card?
Are Crabtree's defenders saying that he was running low on sleep snd that's why he forgot he brought the weapon into the "secure zone"? That troubles me in a guy whose job it is to protect me from very bad people. Are sleep deprived baggage inspectors a frequent situation?
Why don't the inspectors have to go through security too? That might be a good layer to have.
May 3, 2008 1:37 AM
Anonymous said...
As Paul Harvey says---now for the rest of the story - yes, Sherlock, the airport suspended his SIDA badge / airport access for 30-days. All that does is not allow him into the sterile area or SIDA for 30-days. It in no way keeps him or any other from working off site such as in the FSD offices. I am sure in an operation the size of Denver's there are tons of things he could have done which would not have required airport access.
I am very confident that he was also suspended without pay for 2 weeks from the TSA. This will also hurt him for promotion, and pay. However it would not kill him.
Hot diggity damn, now I know the whole trooth and nuttin but the trooth.
You are confident he was suspended for a whole two weeks. Wow, where are you getting your info?
I did all the sleuthing I could in the few minutes I had to deal with this and found NOTHING about a two week suspension. What I did find was what I showed, the Airport Authority suspended his ID. (in reality they revoked it, but let's not split hairs)
I found was very little about this rouge TSO. Amazing, a trusted TSO brings a gun to work but the ONLY news report was from one TV station AFTER the TSO was reinstated.
Now think about that, disregard that government check you cash, and use the brains God gave you.
Why in this day of instant news, when people are paid to do nothing but listen to police frequencies and check police reports, did this little gem not come up before April 24, 2008, A full 153 days or 5 months after the incident?
Sorry Mr. "I'll take a dig but stay anonymous", we don't know the rest of the story. Hell we don't know a tenth of the story.
Now before anyone thinks I am calling for this guy's head, I am not. He took a weapon from his car to secure it, should he have been arrested? I don't think so.
Then again I don't think Gregory Scott Hinkle, David Huckabee, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, or Louis Tasiopoulos should have been arrested either.
May 3, 2008 2:53 AM
Anonymous said:
"Hells Bells man - if that is how you feel stop hitting the reply and if enough feel this way Bob will be out of a job, the blog will be dead and you can move on to UFO cover ups."
Good heavens, why would anyone ever do that? It's good to see the TSA continuing to make themselves look totally foolish, whether by their action or their inaction.
And speaking of inaction, where are those frontal pictures?
May 3, 2008 7:32 AM
May 2, 2008 1:34 PM
Or my personal favorite, man forgets he has a gun, makes it through security. He realizes he has the weapon and RETURNS to security. He was CHARGED with a CRIME. Yet this TSO was let of with a hand slap.
Untrue. That TSO was fired.
May 3, 2008 11:16 AM
Anarchy, and yes I know that's not your handle but I'm feeling particularly lazy and don't feel like looking up the exact syntax of it, wrote:
So, what measures do you plan to implement that will ensure that the airplanes are secure from the TSOs? Will you screen them daily as they go to work? Will that include frontal images of them in the MMW?
At Huntsville (and I think the whole of the system, but I might be wrong) the TSOs are required to go through the checkpoint daily as we go to work, with everything we bring with us screened in the x-ray. The only protocol that TSOs (and, indeed, all airport employees) are exempt from that the public isn't is the shoe-removal requirement.
I will confess that I don't know the first thing about this story; I didn't hear about it at all until I found this thread on the blog. However, if we self-reported before it entered into the x-ray, then there wasn't any kind of screening violation.
As I mentioned in a much-earlier post on another thread: the same thing happened here about a year after we rolled out, where a passenger self-reported having inert hand grenades in his carry-on bag. Since it happened before his bag entered the x-ray, we just told him to go put them back out in his car, as they wouldn't be permitted in checked baggage either. If we had found them after his bag had entered into the x-ray... well, that'd have been a whole different ball of wax, with local law enforcement officials being notified, and a metric ton of paperwork to be filled out.
And, yes, when we get the MMW scanner, we, the lowly and humble peons of the TSA, will have to be screened in it alongside the passenger when we report in for duty every day.
May 3, 2008 11:55 AM
Trollkiller said - Hot diggity damn, now I know the whole trooth and nuttin but the trooth.
Sorry for the anonymous "take my shot" posting but because you are such a super sleuth I hope you will understand.
1. Who am I? - if I said there is no way in he-- I would post.
2. Why were you only able to come up with a letter from the airport authority? They post things like this but this is not and INTERNAL Discipline issue to the airport. I do not believe you will fine the internal handling of employees listed in a public document unless there was an arrest.
3. Trollkiller said - Then again I don't think Gregory Scott Hinkle, David Huckabee, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, or Louis Tasiopoulos should have been arrested either. As others have said - to the best of my knowledge the TSA has not placed one passenger under arrest for anything. Depending on where it was that whatever happened it is the discretion of the local law enforcement to cite, arrest, detain, or simply ignore. TSA may well have sent a Notice of Violation (NOV)to anyone with a prohibited item such as a firearm and that may even include a civil fine but TSA did not arrest any of those mentioned above, they referred the discovery to the local LEO and they took it from there. I have seen the locals ignore things that I could not believe but that is their option. Depending on the issue I have also seen the locals refer an item to the US District Att. Office but they seldom get involved and simply decline.
4. Trollkiller said - Why in this day of instant news, when people are paid to do nothing but listen to police frequencies and check police reports, did this little gem not come up before April 24, 2008, A full 153 days or 5 months after the incident? NOT SURE ON THAT ONE - except that the local LEO was very likely at the checkpoint so it didn't go over a radio. This was very likely handled at the checkpoint by the local LEO removing the individual and the firearm to another location (same as everyone else) looking into it, running an NCIC, looking for a permit, and making a decision to cite/arrest/or decline. Again, if this happened at JFK then then incredible CCW restrictions in NYC would have likely gave the officer cause to place the TSO under arrest. But, it didn't, it happened in DEN under CO law and the officer made the decision. My guess is someone ran across the local SIDA suspension letter in a public doc and simply picked up on it. Also, if you really take a hard look at many of the replies on this entire blog you will find a few persons who seem to want to comment on everything and believe it to be a huge conspiracy.
5. Trollkiller said - You are confident he was suspended for a whole two weeks. Wow, where are you getting your info?
I CAN NOT TELL YOU THAT but will say I am very confident in that and because it is an internal discipline issue you will not find it in a police file. Had he been arrested and charged I am sure he would not have been retained. Again, not everything is a conspiracy and I assure you the local TSA do not ignore it.
6. Trollkiller said - Sorry Mr. "I'll take a dig but stay anonymous", we don't know the rest of the story. Hell we don't know a tenth of the story.
You got me there, it must have been the Shurlock comment that got your goat:) As far as the story - I assure you I have told you within a few posts. However the huge big brother conspiracy is more fun to believe. Trollkiller you are likely someone who would be fun to have a beer with but until a later time I will stay anonymous. As for me I love the blog. I just wish we had an internal one we could comment on and be anonymous.
May 3, 2008 12:44 PM
A response to Trollkiller, but with a question for anyone who might know more than I (which is just about everyone ...)
Then again I don't think Gregory Scott Hinkle, David Huckabee, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, or Louis Tasiopoulos should have been arrested either.
I just looked at those links; each of those people had a loaded firearm. This TSO had an unloaded firearm, without any ammunition in the bag. Might that explain the difference in treatment?
(Obligatory side remark. If, indeed, this is the difference, it would've been a whole lot easier if someone "in the know" could've pointed out the difference in treatment, rather that leaving the rest of us to bicker about things we don't understand ...)
May 3, 2008 1:23 PM
Why did you pull a lot of the posts that took you to task for playing the "Pravacy Act card? The perps name is readily available from the media to anyone who knows how to use a search engine.
May 3, 2008 3:06 PM
in response to the anonymous reply to me :)
No it wouldn't, they would just continue to post this drivel and call it the public forum.
I would however like to thank the TSA. They finally took the name Margaret Anderson (its a pretty common one you can imagine) off of the watch list. I know this because my fiance (same name) no longer gets SSSS printed on her tickets because of an old lady. Only took you four years
May 3, 2008 6:52 PM
Anonymous said...
Sorry for the anonymous "take my shot" posting but because you are such a super sleuth I hope you will understand.
1. Who am I? - if I said there is no way in he-- I would post.
There is only so much sleuthing I can do between getting up for work and leaving the house. At work I have made a promise not to hack, disassemble, reverse engineer, bypass security, override security, attach devices, load unauthorized programs or do any computer crime over our network.
Sleuthing to find your identity would have broken that promise. Not that I am afraid of losing my job, but our IT guy is frikkin HUGE. He wears size 15 and the boy has grown into his feet.
2. Why were you only able to come up with a letter from the airport authority? They post things like this but this is not and INTERNAL Discipline issue to the airport. I do not believe you will fine the internal handling of employees listed in a public document unless there was an arrest.
I am less worried about the internal handling of this than the external. Should you or him have been fired? I don't know, I have limited knowledge of what went on. If you notice I did not call for that or even mention that.
I will say if I had been your boss you would have been fired, if not fired I would have made you so miserable for months that you would quit.
Let me explain why I would have canned the TSO in question. (this is based on the limited info I have)
1) ALL WEAPONS ARE LOADED.
2) As a TSO you should know better than anyone that bringing a weapon to a secure area is a big no no. This speaks volumes about your competency.
3) If my own screeners can't figure out that bringing a weapon to a secure area is a no no, how can I expect the traveling public to know better?
The TSO in question has completely compromised security. No longer can the managers of that security line fairly turn someone over to law enforcement for a weapon and expect them to be arrested.
In fact if your management is fair they will use the same arguments to convince law enforcement NOT to arrest someone for "forgetting" a weapon.
4) I don't really buy the "I forgot" defense. If I understand the time line, the TSO was driving to work and his vehicle broke down. He called his girl to give him a ride and had his vehicle towed. He took the weapon with him because he did not trust his girl with it and did not want it stolen from the vehicle.
If the above is true or even pretty close, then the TSO should have had that gun on his mind the whole time. If the TSO had been smart he would have remained outside the secure area and talked to his boss and explained the situation. I can think of at least 3 ways to have avoided the problem. 1) take the weapon to one of my LEO buddies and ask them to secure it until the end of my shift. 2) ask one of my fellow TSOs or my manager if we can secure the weapon in their vehicle until the end of my shift 3) have my manager secure the weapon in the office until the end of the shift.
More in a bit, the race is on.
May 3, 2008 8:35 PM
Jim Huggins said...
"I just looked at those links; each of those people had a loaded firearm. This TSO had an unloaded firearm, without any ammunition in the bag. Might that explain the difference in treatment?"
From what I have gathered from trollkiller's posts, he may be able to shed some light on the difference in treatment between a loaded and unloaded handgun. I would assume that in an armed robbery they would be treated much the same. In this case the weapon was not loaded.
May 3, 2008 8:54 PM
Trollkiller said - There is only so much sleuthing I can do between getting up for work and leaving the house. At work I have made a promise not to hack, disassemble, reverse engineer, bypass security, override security, attach devices, load unauthorized programs or do any computer crime over our network.
REPLY - As soon as there is any type of reprisal from TSA for this blog then one will know there is no such thing as anonymous. By giving you the option to identify yourself as anonymous they imply it is. I defend the agency and have for several years. However, I am also a critic and have been vocal before. Anonymous....hum....now that might be an interesting suit if the agency took reprisal on someone for an anonymous post.
May 3, 2008 11:03 PM
Trollkiller said - I will say if I had been your boss you would have been fired, if not fired I would have made you so miserable for months that you would quit.
Let me explain why I would have canned the TSO in question. (this is based on the limited info I have)
1) ALL WEAPONS ARE LOADED.
2) As a TSO you should know better than anyone that bringing a weapon to a secure area is a big no no. This speaks volumes about your competency.
Now I know that all weapons are loaded but you must know that even though you have learned this from a child there is lawyer out there that will argue the point and win. So at least, from a legal definition, there are "unloaded" weapons. I also agree with you that I would have fired him so hopefully my competency is a little better now, I also am not a TSO. Have fun, and happy blogging.
May 3, 2008 11:12 PM
Talk about a good Saturday, I got a nap, watched a race, had a great dinner, spent time with the family and just had some Fren-- I mean Freedom Toast. It may take me a few to get up to my normal level of grumpy.
anonymous said...
to the best of my knowledge the TSA has not placed one passenger under arrest for anything.
Depending on where it was that whatever happened it is the discretion of the local law enforcement to cite, arrest, detain, or simply ignore.
ar·rest (ə-rĕst')
1. To stop; check: a brake that automatically arrests motion
2. To seize and hold under the authority of law.
3. To capture and hold briefly
An arrest may occur (1) by the touching or putting hands on the arrestee; (2) by any act that indicates an intention to take the arrestee into custody and that subjects the arrestee to the actual control and will of the person making the arrest; or (3) by the consent of the person to be arrested. There is no arrest where there is no restraint, and the restraint must be under real or pretended legal authority. However, the detention of a person need not be accompanied by formal words of arrest or a station house booking to constitute an arrest.
The test used to determine whether an arrest took place in a particular case is objective, and it turns on whether a reasonable person under these circumstances would believe he or she was restrained or free to go.
excert from the full legal definition at TheFreeDictionary.com
If a TSO holds someone to turn them over to a LEO, the TSO has in fact made the arrest. The traveler being held for a violation is NOT free to leave.
I think what you mean to say is the TSA has never charged someone with a crime.
May 4, 2008 3:20 AM
Anonymous said...
This was very likely handled at the checkpoint by the local LEO removing the individual and the firearm to another location (same as everyone else) looking into it, running an NCIC, looking for a permit, and making a decision to cite/arrest/or decline. ...
... My guess is someone ran across the local SIDA suspension letter in a public doc and simply picked up on it. Also, if you really take a hard look at many of the replies on this entire blog you will find a few persons who seem to want to comment on everything and believe it to be a huge conspiracy.
I don't think it is a conspiracy, but I know it was a "cover our a**". Every other time a person is caught with a weapon the TSA toots their horn so hard you can hear it clear across the country. Why not in this case?
In fact if anything this one should have been the one the TSA trots out to show us what a fantastic job they are doing.
Think about it, the TSO that discovered the weapon did their job to the utmost. They were not distracted by the fact that the person they were screening was one of their own.
As for the lack of criminal charges in this case seems to be more of a who you know rather then what you did.
This is evident by not only this case but prior cases at DIA. Take the case of Helene C. Nance, she was arrested and released on $1000 bail but not charged with a weapons violation. Her husband just happened to be J.B. Nance a TSA manager at DIA. Compare that to the case of Robert James Smith, he was arrested and held without bail. Sadly he apparently has no relations at the TSA.
May 4, 2008 5:33 AM
Anonymous said...
You got me there, it must have been the Shurlock comment that got your goat:)
As far as the story - I assure you I have told you within a few posts. However the huge big brother conspiracy is more fun to believe.
Trollkiller you are likely someone who would be fun to have a beer with but until a later time I will stay anonymous. As for me I love the blog.
I just wish we had an internal one we could comment on and be anonymous.
It is nice to see you get the Billy Goats Gruff reference.
I don't drink beer unless it is one of those thick dark beers, Jägermeister is more my speed.
I am not a big conspiracy fan because I know most people can't keep their mouths shut. Some of the conspiracy nut theories make me just roll my eyes. I am more of a skeptic when it comes to anyone that says "trust me".
Like on the MMW image issue that this, the duty free bag, and the doggie post are meant to derail us from.
I don't think it is a conspiracy per say but I do know that I don't trust the "safe for pre-schoolers" statement. I have seen the front images and I don't find them offensive, but what I do find offensive is the TSA's hope that it will all blow over if we toss this one TSO under the bus.
I went back and checked to see if a whole bunch of people were clamoring about this TSO bringing a gun to work, I found just 4 posts. 3 by anonymous posters and one by me.
While I am glad the TSA addressed this issue, I am a bit baffled that they won't address the MMW image and safety issue. Just show the damned image so we can get on with other business.
As for the internal blog not allowing an anonymous posting, that is due to your blog bosses not thinking outside the box.
It is simple to set up an anonymous account. All you have to do is create an account and give it a password.
Email that password to all your TSA employees to use on the 'anonymous' account. Change the password every month or so to keep non TSA people off that blog. Problem solved.
May 4, 2008 6:05 AM
Anonymous said...
Now I know that all weapons are loaded but you must know that even though you have learned this from a child there is lawyer out there that will argue the point and win. So at least, from a legal definition, there are "unloaded" weapons. I also agree with you that I would have fired him so hopefully my competency is a little better now, I also am not a TSO. Have fun, and happy blogging.
When it comes to bringing a gun into a airport secure area, there is no legal difference between loaded and unloaded.
May 4, 2008 6:11 AM
Anonymous said...
Please explain why the privacy act only applies to your coverups and not when you report something about a citizen by means of bragging about your ability to catch water bottles.
May 2, 2008 1:04 PM
The Privacy Act also is for Passengers. You never see the out come of those who also bring guns to the checkpoint or brass knuckles
or large knives or any other items that are Prohibited because their privacy is protected also.So if you don't know the facts try not to infer them.
May 4, 2008 10:37 AM
Yon Killer of Trolls wrote:
If a TSO holds someone to turn them over to a LEO, the TSO has in fact made the arrest. The traveler being held for a violation is NOT free to leave.
Not... exactly.
We, from the lowly TSO up to Supervisors and Screening Management and all, cannot detain or arrest. The only thing we can do is ask them to stay there.
The next paragraph is written from the perspective of someone who doesn't work for law enforcement, and so the semantics might be off. Fair warning. :D
They are "free" to leave - we won't physically attempt to stop them; we don't have that kind of authority. However, if they do leave, then we'll send a tail onto them with a radio and relay their position to local public safety officers (in the olden days, by the way, this was known as a 'contained security breach'), and when they're stopped and arrested by the police then they'll likely have a civil violation fine tacked onto whatever charges are being filed against them.
Trollkiller also said:
Like on the MMW image issue that this, the duty free bag, and the doggie post are meant to derail us from.
...And
While I am glad the TSA addressed this issue, I am a bit baffled that they won't address the MMW image and safety issue. Just show the damned image so we can get on with other business.
I don't necessarily think that they're meant to derail or distract. The TSA has operated this blog for a while now with a new entry every few days (and, occasionally, every day) and they're not always timed for when something's recieving harsh criticism, and they're not always focused on the checkpoint operations. TSA does do a few more things than that :P
I think the allegation of TSA trying to wag the dog is a bit unfounded.
As for the rest of it, though?
I agree. I'd rather like to see these MMW images myself, and, heh, with all due respect to my superiors and colleagues in the TSA, I think you should've known that if you made the kind of statements about them that you did (such as being safe for the cover of reader's digest, if I recall correctly), and then didn't give a full front/back-male/female example of the images (it doesn't have to be of you; a nameless, faceless random yokel would've been sufficient), that it would cause fifteen kinds of credibility problems.
So, c'mon. Where's the images?
May 4, 2008 12:09 PM
Trollkiller, again, wrote:
As for the internal blog not allowing an anonymous posting, that is due to your blog bosses not thinking outside the box.
The... blargh..
Hm.
While I'm not aware of an official internal TSA blog, we do have something like that in the form of an IdeaFactory. It's designed to let everyone in the organization throw some ideas out for TSA to look at and evaluate, and a few neat (though minor) things have bubbled up from it. Even so, one still cannot post to it anonymously.
It interacts with the actual log-on of the computer itself, and cannot be accessed from non-TSA computers (I believe this is called a VPN, right?). Any posts or threads made there show the author as "firstname.lastname"
May 4, 2008 12:17 PM
If your officers have a right to privacy, what about the passengers? When something happens with a passenger, that is released, makes the news nd becomes a matter of public record when it makes it to the police dept. or the courts.
I won't even bring up the privacy concerns from the MMW strip search.
Once again, you wonder why the American ranks you just above the IRS in trust(I think that is a mistake, I'd rather deal with an IRS agent in an audit).
SSI, SSI, SSI, how about disclose, disclose, disclose!
May 4, 2008 2:05 PM
WHY are TSA employees not screenedwhen the enter the sterile area or the checkpoints (please answer this question, I really would like to know)?
Talk about a hole in the system!
May 4, 2008 2:15 PM
re: "Once again, you wonder why the American ranks you just above the IRS in trust."
Acutally I think the IRS is ranked higher than the TSA in every category.
TSA is the worst of the worst and prove it every day.
May 4, 2008 6:30 PM
HSVTSO Dean said...
We, from the lowly TSO up to Supervisors and Screening Management and all, cannot detain or arrest. The only thing we can do is ask them to stay there.
The next paragraph is written from the perspective of someone who doesn't work for law enforcement, and so the semantics might be off. Fair warning. :D
They are "free" to leave - we won't physically attempt to stop them; we don't have that kind of authority. However, if they do leave, then we'll send a tail onto them with a radio and relay their position to local public safety officers (in the olden days, by the way, this was known as a 'contained security breach'), and when they're stopped and arrested by the police then they'll likely have a civil violation fine tacked onto whatever charges are being filed against them.
Yeah the semantics are way off. The reason the TSA does not want you to place hands on someone is for your own safety. TSOs are not trained in hand to hand combat. (at least not by the TSA) It would be a black eye to the TSA if you got a black eye.
The fact that you tell someone to "stay put" under the color of law make that command or suggestion an arrest. A reasonable person will not think they are free to go, if leaving can result in further arrest, criminal or civil charges. The fact that you won't physically stop them does not mean they are free to leave.
Face it, all those people you told to wait for a LEO were arrested by you. Kinda takes away from that "wasn't me" feeling doesn't it.
TSOs are in a position of authority. If a bum on a street told me to "stay put" I know I can walk away without any legal sanction. If a TSO tells me to "stay put" I know walking away will put me at risk for legal sanctions. The bum made no arrest, the TSO did.
Do yourself a favor and look at the link I provided and do a search on "arrest definition". I would say take it one step further and ask a DA, whatever you do, don't take what the TSA tells you as gospel. If your wrongly arrest someone the TSA will toss you under the bus.
In fact if you wrongly arrest someone your only saving grace will be if you acted in good faith and did not physically restrain the person.
I am telling you this because I can easily see an over the top TSO getting into an altercation with someone that knows the rules better than they do.
All it would take is a punitive "do you want to be arrested" to push that TSO out of the good faith area and into the malicious area. Once the arrest is in the malicious area that TSO could be successfully charged in criminal or civil court.
Better to know the real limits.
May 5, 2008 12:25 AM
HSVTSO Dean said...
The... blargh..
Hm.
While I'm not aware of an official internal TSA blog, we do have something like that in the form of an IdeaFactory. It's designed to let everyone in the organization throw some ideas out for TSA to look at and evaluate, and a few neat (though minor) things have bubbled up from it. Even so, one still cannot post to it anonymously.
It interacts with the actual log-on of the computer itself, and cannot be accessed from non-TSA computers (I believe this is called a VPN, right?). Any posts or threads made there show the author as "firstname.lastname"
If I recall correctly Kip said something about making an internal blog. I assumed it was already up and running. (sorry can't locate the video right now)
May 5, 2008 12:31 AM
Anonymous said...