TSA antics

| May 19, 2011

In Minneapolis, TSA decides to have a drill without telling everyone it’s a drill. From the Star-Tribune;

With their guns drawn, police surrounded a man who reportedly was trying to get through security at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with a bomb in a carry-on bag.

It was a drill, but the trouble was no one had told the cops, who thought it was real.

“I think a lot of people were alarmed,” Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airport Commission, said of last week’s incident. “There is always a danger that someone could have gotten hurt. It was unfortunate.”

Unfortunate? Is was downright careless. Armed dinguses running around with drawn pistols in a crowded airport terminal? Thinking they had real criminal with a real bomb. It’s sorta like Barney Fife getting the opportunity to pull that bullet out of his pocket finally, all shaking and jittery with excitement.

I appreciate realistic training, but not involving or near the public.

Meanwhile, at LAX, TSA should be watching each other. A link from Old Trooper to ABC News;

A Transportation Security Administration officer at LAX has been arrested for stealing from a traveler’s suitcase.

Ryan Driscoll, 31, was arrested on May 10 at Terminal 6. He faces a felony theft charge.

It is unclear exactly what he’s accused of taking.

Mr. Driscoll isn’t exactly inspiring confidence in TSA’s hiring practices.

Category: Terror War

7 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Instinct

From the article it seems it was the real police who confronted the man, not the TSA jerkoffs, which was probably for the best since TSA would have probably screwed the pooch on it, like they do most things.

I do like how they actually noticed a bomb during the screening. Must have had a big sign on it saying “This bag has a bomb in it!!! Please notice me!!!”

trackback

[…] Jonn said at This Ain’t Hell: Unfortunate? Is was downright careless. Armed dinguses running around with drawn pistols in a […]

NHSparky

Jesus H. Tapdancin Christ. For the nearly 30 years I’ve flown, I’ve always known never to say words like, “bomb”, “hijack”, “gun”, etc…so as not to scare anyone or cause a panic.

So what do these dumbfucks do, unannounced? I swear these idiots are as useful as a football bat.

Just A Grunt

What? They arrested a TSA agent for stealing? Hell in Atlanta they get sent home on a 3 day suspension. With pay.
No really. Of course at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport your property is just classified as missing. You know as in it was in the bags on one end of the scanner and then like magic they were missing when they came out the other side.

Some advice to travelers coming through Atlanta airport. When going through any sort of TSA screening keep your eyes on your bags at all times. The scam here is once your bag goes in if an agent sees something he/she might like, like cash or electronic gadget they give a signal to their partner. The partner then diverts your attention away by having you face a different direction and most people are going to obey the orders given to them by a official looking TSA agent. Once your back is turned the other agent filches what he wants, signals his partner and you are given the all clear. At this point most people breathe a sigh of relief, grab their bags and hussle off before they do something that might once again draw the attention of the friendly Homeland Security employee.

Regardless of when you discover the missing item they are covered and those stupid cameras that are supposed to be watching the agents just never seem to catch the act. It has become such a scam around here that people that don’t even fly warn others.

fm2176

Let me guess, the man with the fake bomb was a male Caucasian veteran…or a 7-year-old kid.

On a side note I stopped into a police supply store yesterday and found out that TSA agents are no longer authorized to buy LE guns (Glocks, etc). Oddly enough, the guy behind the counter told me he is hesitant to sell to reserve officers or deputies now too. Military, paid LEOs, Wildlife Agents, and a bunch of others can still buy them. Can’t argue with saving around $100 over normal prices.

tankerswife

Funny, I just did a research paper on the TSA. While my paper wasn’t about the screeners themselves (it was about the use of behavioral profiling), I did come across some astonishing information.

The requirements (experience & education) to gain employment as an office staffer for DHS are higher than for a TSO. You only need to be a high school graduate and US citizen/resident to be a TSO. Then they only have 40 hrs training. One week’s worth. Yep, makes me feel safe and secure.

streetsweeper

Anyone ‘sides me see TSO’s moniker coming here? LMAO!
You are getting spoil’t over there, fm!