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Michael R. Farnum

Hitting the Security Nerve

TSA screeners bypassing security in Denver

15 comments

TAGS:Denver, Homeland Security, screening, TSA
IT TOPICS:Government & Regulation, Security

The local NBC affiliate in Denver has uncovered a policy at the Denver International Airport that "allows airport screeners at Denver International Airport to bypass the same security screening checkpoints that passengers have to go through." The screeners can simply walk around the same security checks that passengers go through without their person or belongings being checked. Here's a quote from the article:

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 told the affiliate that there was some worry that new TSA badges would be lost because they set off alarms at screening points, causing the screeners to remove them when going through checkpoints. But TSA officials said that is not not the reason. They claim it is a risk-based move. Another couple of quotes:

"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.

"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."

I assume the intelligence she is referring to is the background checks done by TSA. But background checks are typically less than useless. The screeners are also subject to random screening while at work, but that is also useless for the most part since the screeners still know that they are coming. It is not difficult to hide something if you have the desire to do so.

Look, I am all about risk management. But clearly someone at DIA is not very skilled in measuring risk. Unless they can show how they came to the conclusion that this risk is acceptable (and I don't see how they can), this is a gargantuan loophole. How hard would it be for a terrorist to get or counterfeit a TSA uniform? It is inviting another terrorist attack, and this needs to be fixed immediately.

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You do not have the facts.

Submitted by Anonymous on January 14, 2010 - 1:53 P.M.

Unlike the passengers the eemplloyees have to leaave the checkpoint to go to the bathroom, smoke,buy from the vendors or go outside for fresh air. This is done several times a day. Not to mention those with medical implants who alarm the walk through every time they even go to the infield. ( the area directly in front of the metal detectors, and behind the document checkers. ) Is it wise for the screeners to have to go through a complete screening up to ten times a day. what about the cost and time used that is taken away from the passengers.You also don't realize that the screeneera who go through that gate are only allowed to go to their break room, not into the secure area ( which is on the checkpoint.) As usual the media only has half the facts, and reports only because someone was inconvienced and didn't like having to go through the screening process to begin with. T hey were more likely one of those who run late to everything and want to hold others responsible for their lack of maturity. ( cry babies )

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They also need to screen all

Submitted by Roger on September 19, 2008 - 3:10 P.M.

They also need to screen all airport employees / TSA screeners etc. when they *leave* the airport. Right now these people have access to all the luggage going through the airport - and can lug off whatever they want - as there are no checks on what they take out of the airport.

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jewelry stolen at DIA

Submitted by nicole on June 17, 2009 - 11:50 P.M.

I had $12,000 worth of jewelry stolen out of my luggage at DIA airport. The Airport police said that there would have been a tag on my luggage saying it was searched. The officer said "This area is well-lit, well laid out, well supervised areas where no one has an opportunity to be alone with a bag." He said it was most likely Southwest, yet there was limited time and TSA is the only one who can see inside my bag and know exactly where to look in such a limited time. One month after my claim, DIA installed a closed circuit tv system to monitor the area better. My question is, Why would they need this if they have such a secure TSA area to begin with?

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All Airport Employees Screened

Submitted by Wayne on November 16, 2008 - 10:57 P.M.

Every airport employee is screened going through the checkpoint. Each one has a badge that is look at. Federal officers do not let just anyone in. They are trained to look at these different types of badges to determine if these ID's are valid. If they are not valid then they are either turned away or held for notification for Law enforcement and their chain of command.

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Trouble in more than one place

Submitted by oldphoneguy on September 18, 2008 - 4:50 P.M.

I was going to hazard a guess that the problem is not just at DIA, but "Anonymous" above describes something similar at Dulles. Seems like a TSA protocol hole from here.

DIA, TSA - don't you just love all the damned abbreviations?

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If pilots, flight crews,

Submitted by Anonymous on September 18, 2008 - 12:48 P.M.

If pilots, flight crews, ground operations personnel; all who have direct acces to aircraft, are required to be screened; why ever would screeners not be required to go through the same screening process.
Just last week at Dulles I saw a screener with a crock pot full of food past security. An airline employee would not be allowed that, why is a screener?

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I work for TSA

Submitted by Anonymous on September 20, 2008 - 1:03 A.M.

Okay, I'm going to lay it all out for all of you. Screeners still get checked randomly in the sterile area, secondly to get access to those areas you are all worried about you need an airport ID to swipe and an access code, in addition we let flight crews carry pretty much what they want. They don't have limits to liquids and they can bring as much food as they want. TSO's on the other hand aren't allowed even water in the checkpoint area, let alone food. We have to bring it through and alternate entrance if we want to keep our own stuff. Furthermore, we are government workers, we went through background checks, and work as security. I'm sorry if everyone feels that it is unfair that we aren't checked the same way you are, but really use common sense folks. I personally come in and out of the checkpoint dozens of times a day, should I remove everything medal and go through screening 30 times a day, no I shouldn't. One last point, when you are work do you follow the same procedures you give to your customers or do you have different ones for employees. For example, stores give employees and employee discount. Where is the fairness in that, stop crying and except the fact that the author of this article is picking at strays and doesn't know all of the facts.

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Screeners

Submitted by Jim on December 28, 2009 - 6:22 P.M.

Sorry Screener for your inconvenience, but you are not the problem but pretend screeners are and unless all are checked we are exposed so you can have your convenience. I bet I could get 5 pretend screeners through this gaping hole in one day. Maybe we need to raise the IQ of TSA personnel.

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"should I remove everything

Submitted by Anonymous on September 22, 2008 - 4:18 P.M.

"should I remove everything medal and go through screening "

Yes you should.

Annoying and useless isn't? Pity the poor TSA drone forced to follow their idiotic rules they force on everyone else.

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I work for TSA

Submitted by Anonymous on September 22, 2008 - 9:52 P.M.

Sorry to burst your bubble but we don't exactly make the rules, regardless we still have to enforce them. A job is a job ours has certain guidelines we are suppose to enforce and so does your job. Its not like I wake up in the morning and happily proclaim to the world; lets take someones liquids away, lets pat down an 85 year old with a hip replacement, lets take off those shoes and your belts and your jackets, don't forget to take out your laptop. Still, its my job, and I proudly say I do a good job. I've been with TSA for a year, before that I spent 5 years with the United States Army. I took the job so I had a decent paying job while I finished my bachelors degree. Yet while these rules may appear to be completley arbitrary to you let me inform you of the things I've found in the year I've worked for TSA: Knives, drugs and numerous fradulent documents. I've found knives on 85 year old men, including one time strapped to the leg of a man who claimed he had a pacemaker. I found weapons artfully concealled in the medal handles of you pull bags, by the arches of women's shoes. I've found cocaine stuffed in the shoes of one individual. This could have been alot more serious, it could have been explosives stuffed in the shoes. If this is a pain to you, sorry but man up and stop wasting our time. We are just as tired of stupid policies as you are but we enforce what we are told to do. It's the way of the world, just like police enforce the local laws, even if they don't agree with them. The fact of the matter is when TSA decided to waste the money on stupid new badges for us, which by the way most of us thought was completley useless, it made all of us alarm the medal detectors. Waste of time to take off the badge, since we aren't allowed to remove it by our own rules. So this is how its going to be done from now on.

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