TSA officers attacked at MSY
Mar 25, 2015, 10:36 am
#46
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You would be surprised how many people think TSOs are armed, and are absolutely floored when they find out we are not. I am not sure where all that confusion comes from, other than a general lack of knowledge and seeing the Customs uniforms (which are sometimes similar in coloring).
Last edited by petaluma1; Mar 25, 2015 at 11:02 am
Mar 25, 2015, 10:50 am
#47
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You would be surprised how many people think TSOs are armed, and are absolutely floored when they find out we are not. I am not sure where all that confusion comes from, other than a general lack of knowledge and seeing the Customs uniforms (which are sometimes similar in coloring).
Mar 25, 2015, 11:03 am
#48
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Mar 25, 2015, 11:04 am
#49
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The "confusion" as you call it, comes directly from your agency and is deliberate. You recall when the change of uniform was made, it was done in an attempt to garner more "respect" from the public. Sadly, the ruse has been successful, not only among the general, unthinking public, but among your fellow employees as well.
Mar 25, 2015, 11:23 am
#50
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You would be surprised how many people think TSOs are armed, and are absolutely floored when they find out we are not. I am not sure where all that confusion comes from, other than a general lack of knowledge and seeing the Customs uniforms (which are sometimes similar in coloring).
Mar 25, 2015, 12:03 pm
#51
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Some have said that Americans are around eight times more likely to be killed by cops than by terrorists. More armed government employees at US airport screening checkpoints isn't going to secure my life, in any statistically significant way, from the risk of being killed by non-state actors.
LEOizing the TSA will make the process of dealing with petty little Napoleon screeners more risky for passengers. Arming more TSA employees is not going to improve screening experiences and outcomes for passengers.
LEOizing the TSA will make the process of dealing with petty little Napoleon screeners more risky for passengers. Arming more TSA employees is not going to improve screening experiences and outcomes for passengers.
Mike
Mar 25, 2015, 12:20 pm
#52
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Depends over what time period. If you go back to include 9/11, then probably so. Number annually killed by police is actually pretty uncertain, but seems to be at least 1100. Assuming 1500/year over the last 15 years, you'd be at 22.5k, vs about 3k from terrorism, so around 8:1. Excluding 9/11, the ratio is massively higher (more like 200:1, depending on how you define terrorism).
Mar 25, 2015, 2:20 pm
#53
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The "confusion" as you call it, comes directly from your agency and is deliberate. You recall when the change of uniform was made, it was done in an attempt to garner more "respect" from the public in addition to boosting the morale of the screeners. Sadly, the ruse has been successful, not only among the general, unthinking public, but among your fellow employees as well.
Mar 25, 2015, 7:56 pm
#54
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Indeed, the TSA deliberately decided to make TSA screeners to dress up more like police officers. The current uniforms and metal badges are a direct result of TSA management wanting to do as mentioned above. The result is that a lot of Americans ignorantly believe that TSA screeners in the main are some kind of law enforcement officer.
Right or wrong, lots of people assume any 'federal officer' is carrying or can carry.
Mar 25, 2015, 9:05 pm
#55
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There has been more than one occassion on the TSA blog where posters have insisted that TSA screeners are "sworn officers".
Last edited by Boggie Dog; Mar 25, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Mar 26, 2015, 5:50 am
#56
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Some of it is probably individuals making more of themselves than they are but I suppose technically they are "Federal officers". The recruiting announcements are for Transportation Security Officer not specialist or technician or even agent. So technically their title includes the word officer and they work for the Federal government so they are by some definition a Federal officer. Of course as soon as most hear "officer" and see the uniform and badge it's not much of a leap that they are police in the typical sense.
Mar 26, 2015, 1:02 pm
#58
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Indeed, the TSA deliberately decided to make TSA screeners to dress up more like police officers. The current uniforms and metal badges are a direct result of TSA management wanting to do as mentioned above. The result is that a lot of Americans ignorantly believe that TSA screeners in the main are some kind of law enforcement officer.
Mar 26, 2015, 1:25 pm
#59
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Mar 26, 2015, 2:59 pm
#60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chollie
Well, TSOs routinely refer to themselves as 'federal officers', too.
Right or wrong, lots of people assume any 'federal officer' is carrying or can carry.
Some of it is probably individuals making more of themselves than they are but I suppose technically they are "Federal officers". The recruiting announcements are for Transportation Security Officer not specialist or technician or even agent. So technically their title includes the word officer and they work for the Federal government so they are by some definition a Federal officer. Of course as soon as most hear "officer" and see the uniform and badge it's not much of a leap that they are police in the typical sense.
Originally Posted by chollie
Well, TSOs routinely refer to themselves as 'federal officers', too.
Right or wrong, lots of people assume any 'federal officer' is carrying or can carry.
Some of it is probably individuals making more of themselves than they are but I suppose technically they are "Federal officers". The recruiting announcements are for Transportation Security Officer not specialist or technician or even agent. So technically their title includes the word officer and they work for the Federal government so they are by some definition a Federal officer. Of course as soon as most hear "officer" and see the uniform and badge it's not much of a leap that they are police in the typical sense.