Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate - Congressman Blackburn: “Not on my watch”: 50 Failures of TSA’s TSOs

A new report from Congressman Blackburn, in PDF format, posted at house dot gov:

“Not on my watch”: 50 Failures of TSA’s Transportation Security Officers
CONGRESSMAN MARSHA BLACKBURN
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
112th Congress
May 30, 2012 (http://blackburn.house.gov/uploadedfiles/blackburn_tso_report.pdf)

So tempted to print that out and place it on top of my carryon

Two news articles about the report:

FedSmith.Com:
Blackburn Demands Investigation of TSA Hiring Practices
By Ian Smith
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 (http://www.fedsmith.com/article/3456/blackburn-demands-investigation-tsa-hiring-practices.html)

A short quote:
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has released a report documenting crimes committed by some of the Transportation Security Administration's employees in an effort to demonstrate what it cites as failures to effectively screen the employees it hires.

"'Not on my watch': 50 Failures of TSA's Transportation Security Officers" (http://blackburn.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Blackburn_TSO_Report.pdf) details 50 arrests of TSA employees that have taken place since 2005. It notes that this is not an account of every TSA employee arrested during that timeframe, thus implying the actual number is much higher.

and
NewsChannel 5:
Blackburn Calls For Investigation Of TSA Hiring
Posted: Monday, June 4, 2012 9:04 PM EST
Updated: Monday, June 4, 2012 9:04 PM EST (http://www.newschannel5.com/story/18699910/blackburn-calls-for-investigation-of-tsa-hiring)

A short quote:
"TSA needs to immediately remove themselves from the human resource business. This report details highly disturbing cases where pedophiles and child pornographers wearing federal law enforcement uniforms are not only patting down unsuspecting travelers, but in many cases stealing valuables from their bags. Enough is enough. It's time for Congress to step in and demand accountability from Administrator Pistole," said Blackburn.

Also as part of the report she points out that TSA employees act as law enforcement officers, but have little training, and aren't screened as thoroughly as local police departments. She says the solution is to get the TSA out of law enforcement back to what they were originally set out to do.

Heroin, lots of child porn, theft, the list goes on.

This should get its own sticky...

EPIC FAIL TSA

The "Recommendations" section begins with this:

In nearly all of the cases represented in this report, TSA has repeatedly responded with the same boilerplate response. “The unacceptable behavior of a few individuals in no way reflects the dedication of our nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who work tirelessly to keep our skies safe." Unfortunately, what TSA fails to recognize is that the collective actions of TSOs repeatedly appearing in our national headlines and being arrested for serious crimes does in fact reflect poorly on TSA’s nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers.

:D

The "Recommendations" section begins with this:

:D

^ Yes, this quote was great - I hope the news media picks it up and repeats it. I'm getting a little tired of hearing it from TSA.

Nice. A list of 50 terrorists found in airports. Guess what, they all wear the TSA uniform!

We can take simple and effective action to reduce the amount of terrorists freely roaming our airports--all we have to do is get rid of the TSA.

Two news articles about the report:

FedSmith.Com:
Blackburn Demands Investigation of TSA Hiring Practices
By Ian Smith
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 (http://www.fedsmith.com/article/3456/blackburn-demands-investigation-tsa-hiring-practices.html)

A short quote:
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has released a report documenting crimes committed by some of the Transportation Security Administration's employees in an effort to demonstrate what it cites as failures to effectively screen the employees it hires.

"'Not on my watch': 50 Failures of TSA's Transportation Security Officers" (http://blackburn.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Blackburn_TSO_Report.pdf) details 50 arrests of TSA employees that have taken place since 2005. It notes that this is not an account of every TSA employee arrested during that timeframe, thus implying the actual number is much higher.

and
NewsChannel 5:
Blackburn Calls For Investigation Of TSA Hiring
Posted: Monday, June 4, 2012 9:04 PM EST
Updated: Monday, June 4, 2012 9:04 PM EST (http://www.newschannel5.com/story/18699910/blackburn-calls-for-investigation-of-tsa-hiring)

A short quote:
"TSA needs to immediately remove themselves from the human resource business. This report details highly disturbing cases where pedophiles and child pornographers wearing federal law enforcement uniforms are not only patting down unsuspecting travelers, but in many cases stealing valuables from their bags. Enough is enough. It's time for Congress to step in and demand accountability from Administrator Pistole," said Blackburn.

Also as part of the report she points out that TSA employees act as law enforcement officers, but have little training, and aren't screened as thoroughly as local police departments. She says the solution is to get the TSA out of law enforcement back to what they were originally set out to do.
Umm the problem with HR is that we keep making insider deals... see the accenture debacle and the questionable way lockheed took over.
http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2008/08/gao-declines-to-review-protest-of-massive-tsa-human-resources-contract/27424/
Maybe if the HR contract wasn't dictated by the intended future careers and or portfolios of the decisionmakers, it might work for once.
Also, an independent IG would also be a great help in cleaning up the ranks, as when we report problem behaviors, nothing happens unless the person was already on the list of management's targets.. (however, showing a willingness to report illegal and/or inappropriate behavior will put you on such a list- integrity threatens the fiat of our local command structures)

Hate to tell you, Rep. Blackburn, but as your list shows, this has been happening on your watch - did you just wake up? You've been in office since 2003 and it has been happening for 9 years now and you just noticed?

And it will continue to happen on your watch until you and/or some of your fellow Congresscritters choose to actually earn your salary and do something about it.

What exactly have you done? Have you introduced and fought for specific legislation (riders to other bills will do, we all know how that works) to rein in TSA? Have you addressed the media and told them you have asked for a meeting with the President to discuss your concerns? Have you started documenting passenger experiences (those of your staff, for example, or family, particularly the elderly or handicapped) at checkpoints? Have you tried taking a photograph at a checkpoint? Have you personally actually solicited feedback from your constituents, in Town Meetings, for example?

Did you use some of your fat Congressional budget to mail out copies of your pdf to all of your constituents, asking for feedback and providing a dedicated phone number with a live person at the other end?

In fact, have you at any time since you were first elected in 2003, spoken out about TSA and its practices?

Or is this just all about elections (she is up for re-election this November)? Will we still be hearing about your indignation and 'your watch' after November?

Hate to tell you, Rep. Blackburn, but as your list shows, this has been happening on your watch - did you just wake up? You've been in office since 2003 and it has been happening for 9 years now and you just noticed?

And it will continue to happen on your watch until you and/or some of your fellow Congresscritters choose to actually earn your salary and do something about it.

[snip]

Or is this just all about elections (she is up for re-election this November)? Will we still be hearing about your indignation and 'your watch' after November?

Um...the 'Not on my watch' quote isn't BLACKBURN saying that. It's a quote from Ellen Howe, TSA Assistant Administrator. Look at the 2nd page of the PDF.
“Among these public servants are TSA's workforce, men and women who report to their posts each day motivated by the motto, "not on my watch."… Perhaps the next time you are going through airport security, taking a moment to convey respect and thanks to the Transportation Security Officers, the folks in the new blue uniforms, would offer well deserved recognition. After all, your safety is their priority.”

Um...the 'Not on my watch' quote isn't BLACKBURN saying that. It's a quote from Ellen Howe, TSA Assistant Administrator. Look at the 2nd page of the PDF.

Fair enough, I read too quickly.

My thoughts still stand, though - Blackburn was elected in 2003 - and she's just now taking action to clean up TSA?

I should say, is she taking action, or is she just shooting her mouth off until after this November's elections.

What we need is for a report from a Member of Congress to not begin with praise and worship for the TSA's mission. We need someone with the stones to include something in a report like this:

The only two things that have effectively prevented the September 11 attacks from being repeated are hardened cockpit doors and policies to resist hijackers; the attacks did not occur as a result of terminal security failure, or even by allowing box knives in carry-on bags. The TSA has done absolutely nothing but waste billions of taxpayer dollars on ineffective security theater. It needs to be eliminated in its entirety, and terminal security needs to be returned to exactly the way it was before the September 11 attacks.

Another attack by a mean Congressman on those poor defenseless TSOs...:rolleyes:;)

Perhaps my favorite paragraph: Furthermore, as earlier highlighted in this report, TSOs and BDOs have zero federal law enforcement training despite their federal law enforcement titles, uniforms and metal badges. In many cases, TSOs and BDOs have less training than security guards in most states. For example, in California, security guards may receive permits to carry firearms, tear gas and batons. Due to their lack of training and abuse of power, TSOs and BDOs should return to the previous title and uniforms that were in use prior to the TSA administrative reclassification in 2005

Perhaps my favorite paragraph: Furthermore, as earlier highlighted in this report, TSOs and BDOs have zero federal law enforcement training despite their federal law enforcement titles, uniforms and metal badges. In many cases, TSOs and BDOs have less training than security guards in most states. For example, in California, security guards may receive permits to carry firearms, tear gas and batons. Due to their lack of training and abuse of power, TSOs and BDOs should return to the previous title and uniforms that were in use prior to the TSA administrative reclassification in 2005
"federal law enforcement titles"
We don't have these.

"Perhaps the next time you are going through airport security, taking a moment to convey respect and thanks to the Transportation Security Officers, the folks in the new blue uniforms, would offer well deserved recognition.

Which ones are supposedly worthy of respect?

"federal law enforcement titles"
We don't have these.

With very few exceptions, "Officer" is a law enforcement title in the civilian sector.

The only deserving exception that comes to mind is "officer of the court"

The title "screening officer" is a travesty.


~~ Irish

WBTV, the CBS Affiliate in Charlotte, has covered this story:

WBTV:
Report: TSA hires thieves, pedophiles
Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 5:32 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 9:19 PM EST (http://www.wbtv.com/story/18781511/congresswoman-reports-tsa-hires-criminals)

A short quote:
(WMC-TV) - A new report by a Tennessee congresswoman reveals the Transportation Security Administration is hiring child pornographers and pedophiles.

The report originated out of Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn's office.

Blackburn said America needs to know if the people who are supposed to keep air travel safe are dangerous themselves.

As one who has never been to the US, but is coming later in the year, when you are being pulled aside for a pat down, do you have the right to ask a question of that person and if the question is "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?", will they get upset and call for security or will they accept that as a genuine question from someone wanting to know the character of the person who will be touching them and answer yes or no?

More coverage of this story:

KAIT-8 Television:
Report: TSA hires thieves, pedophiles
Posted: Thursday, June 14, 2012 11:45 AM EST (http://www.kait8.com/story/18788672/report-tsa-hires-thieves-pedophiles)

and

WAFF-Television (48 News):
Report: Some TSA agents are pedophiles and killers
Posted: Thursday, June 14, 2012 5:20 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, June 14, 2012 6:00 PM EST (http://www.waff.com/story/18792237/report-some-tsa-agents-are-pedophiles-and-killers)

Both articles include the same quote from TSA; here is a short quote from the WAFF article:

Here is what TSA spokesperson, John Allen, had to say about the report:
TSA has no tolerance for criminal activity among our ranks. This attempt to cast our highly dedicated workforce as criminals is not an accurate portrayal of our employees.

As one who has never been to the US, but is coming later in the year, when you are being pulled aside for a pat down, do you have the right to ask a question of that person and if the question is "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?", will they get upset and call for security or will they accept that as a genuine question from someone wanting to know the character of the person who will be touching them and answer yes or no?

No, you can't ask. You will be accused of interfering in the screening process if you do.

joe

Here is what TSA spokesperson, John Allen, had to say about the report:
TSA has no tolerance for criminal activity among our ranks. This attempt to cast our highly dedicated workforce as criminals is not an accurate portrayal of our employees.

At least they chose a different cookie cutter quote than normal. :rolleyes:

Either way, the "it's not a problem, it's not our problem, you can't prove it, it's not our fault anyway, shut up and move along..." attitude remains.

:td::td::td: for the TSA

:td::td:This is BEYOND disgusting, we know who the criminals at the airport are.

No, you can't ask. You will be accused of interfering in the screening process if you do.

joe

Shame. It would be nice to know the character of the person who is touching you. And given the proliferation of unsavoury characters already proven to inhabit the TSA, it would make me happier to know that the person hadn't been the subject of a sexually based investigation at some point in their lives.

I wouldn't object to being patted down, just not by them.

WBTV, the CBS Affiliate in Charlotte, has covered this story:

WBTV:
Report: TSA hires thieves, pedophiles
Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 5:32 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 9:19 PM EST (http://www.wbtv.com/story/18781511/congresswoman-reports-tsa-hires-criminals)

A short quote:
(WMC-TV) - A new report by a Tennessee congresswoman reveals the Transportation Security Administration is hiring child pornographers and pedophiles.

The report originated out of Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn's office.

Blackburn said America needs to know if the people who are supposed to keep air travel safe are dangerous themselves.

Well, well, he didn't passed his criminal background checks. TSA should not hiring the child porngraphers. TSA cannot allowed to hiring the convicted felons. TSA say cannot accepting the convicted felony who want work for airport. It's not permitted. They should followed the laws. Because they are very bad person.