Another TSA accomplishment article leaked to the commonfolk as "news." The TSA Media and Social Networking Relations Office seems to be running full bore lately.
To identify dangerous people, the Transportation Security Administration has stationed specially trained behavior detection officers at 161 U.S. airports, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The officers can be positioned anywhere, from the parking garage to the gate, trying to spot passengers who show an unusual level of nervousness or stress.
They don't focus on nationality, race, ethnicity or gender, said Sari Koshetz, spokeswoman for the TSA.
"We're not looking for a type of person, but at behaviors," she said.
Some humorous quotes in it, however.
Note, the BDO examples sited have anything to do with airport security!
Quote:
Last year, officers nationwide required 98,805 passengers to undergo additional screenings. Police questioned 9,854 of them and arrested 813.
While the TSA doesn't break down the numbers for individual airports, each week the officers require dozens of travelers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale to submit to secondary screenings.
In one case, in March 2008, detection officers noticed a passenger about to board a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Charlotte, N.C. During a secondary screening, officers found 209 grams of the drug Ecstasy, with a street value of $2.5 million, in a carry-on bag. The traveler was arrested.
In other instances, travelers have been arrested on charges of drug trafficking, possessing fraudulent documents and having outstanding warrants, Koshetz said.
Who sez they're not easy to spot? That deep stare into our eyes doesn't give them away?
Quote:
It's not easy to spot detection officers. Working in teams of two and clad in TSA uniforms, they blend in with those performing screening chores at the security checkpoint.
Wow, 7 days of training to become behavior experts. Whatever they're doing, it must be great, as I don't know of any other field that can churn out human behavioral professionals in a week.
Quote:
Officers undergo four days of behavior training, which includes trying to spot suicide terrorists, and then receive 24 hours of on-the-job training.
Awww. Sorry, Ron. Looks like you don't qualify.
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While they don't require any previous background in behavior analysis, the officers are chosen based on their intelligence, maturity and ability to work with people, the TSA said.
I wonder if Ken Kaye (kkaye@SunSentinel.com or 954-572-2085) should have disclosed this was a propaganda piece?
What a joke saying they're not easy to spot(LOL) they are tripping all over each other here as there are so many of them
I was talking to one of them last night(who I actually think is a nice guy) & all he was talking about was the "few" times they've caught people with drugs. While I like catching people with dope, this isn't their job. They have yet to catch a terrorist & he admitted that.
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Ever notice that when gas prices spike, and/or there's an outcry about the prices and/or the profit reports come out, that TV is flooded with happy-go-lucky commercials about how (insert oil company here) is working with biofuels, energies fo the future, etc?
It's not easy to spot detection officers. Working in teams of two and clad in TSA uniforms, they blend in with those performing screening chores at the security checkpoint.
What a joke! At DTW yesterday, the BDO was very easy to spot. His radio with the earpiece had a label, BDO #22
Great way to remain in the background. Keep up the great work
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How nice...another puff piece from a so-called journalist. I'm in a biatchy mood, so the following contains an email I just sent off to him...
Quote:
Ken,
I don't mean to be rude, but are you on the TSA payroll to be publishing yet another baseless fluff piece about this agency? You even managed to include a quote from someone who supports the TSA without adding quotes from the growing majority that now wants this agency abolished.
Perhaps I can suggest some investigative journalism here - I think an article that takes TSA managment to the mat on some of these issues and forces them to answer to the following:
1. How does Secure Flight actually enhance security when someone who is on the list now has a simple way to avoid detection by altering the DOB, sex or name that is sent for a check after ticketing? How does checking ID at the airport actually improve security given the ID is not checked against a list at that point, or considering how easy it is for someone to purchase a valid identity and matching ID.
2. How does the TSA continue to justify the complete lack of attention and focus on unscreened cargo and through-the-fence employee access?
3. How does the TSA respond to a recent scathing GAO report that takes the TSA to task for wasting almost 1 BILLION dollars on new technology without even deciding which technology to deploy, or even confirming their technical changes actually address some of the known security challenges? Here is an example of an article that actually investigates instead of blindly praising: http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...ome_editorials
4. How does the TSA respond to reports that their BDO program is a study in useless waste - not a single terrorist or person capable or with intent to do harm has been found, yet they seem focused on finding drug smugglers, porn possessors, warrant jumpers and other people who present absolutely no threat to aviation security and whose detection is both non-germane from the TSA's mission, but also continue to detract from their ability to focus on their core responsibilities?
5. How does the TSA respond to the consistent and continued failures of its screeners to pass spot checks without any improvement over time?
6. How does the TSA respond to the nonsensical ban on liquids which was based on an alleged plot which had no basis in real science, and only forces would-be assailants to bring their allegedly 'deadly' liquids through the checkpoint in multiple smaller batches.
7. How does the TSA respond to not having systems to instantly detect the chemical composition of liquids and other substances? Narita airport in Japan has been using these systems since before the so-called liquid bomb plot was uncovered
8. How doe the TSA respond to facts that it has the highest attrition rate and lowest employee satisfaction of any government employer and how these attrition costs are wasting taxpayer money?
9. How does the TSA respond to evidence that it routinely violates federal laws governing privacy and the fulfilling of information requests by the public?
10. How does the TSA respond to its continued arrogance when incompetence on the part of its employees results in significant impacts to airlines, airports and travelers, namely their constant misplacing of customers and bags at checkpoints necessitating terminal evacuations and other disruptions - most recently the recalling of an aircraft already in flight because one of its own employees avoided the screening process?
11. How does the TSA respond to facts that it has the lowest public perception of quality and service among any federal agency
12. How does the TSA respond to its continued inability or unwillingness to deal with valid complaints from travelers and industry staff regarding rogue, rude or abusive screeners who should be terminated, but these complaints are simply ignored?
I guess I could go on and list additional examples, but it would be more useful to see a journalist actually publish a piece that takes a critical look at this operation, its continued inability to successfully deliver on its mission, and its continued waste of taxpayer dollars in return for an aviation security environment which is no safer than the one which existed on 9/10 - save for the addition of reinforced flightdeck doors and reformed hijack policies
Now that would be something useful and interesting to read.
Thank you,
xxxx xxxxxxx
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It's not easy to spot detection officers. Working in teams of two and clad in TSA uniforms, they blend in with those performing screening chores at the security checkpoint.
What a joke! At DTW yesterday, the BDO was very easy to spot. His radio with the earpiece had a label, BDO #22
Great way to remain in the background. Keep up the great work
LOL I'm lucky I was shaving with an electric razor when I read this.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by coachrowsey
Bruce:
IF you get an answer we would love to read it.
Who is Bruce?
The author just emailed me back asking if I am a current or former TSA employee...not sure where he is going with this or if I will be hearing anything further.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bocastephen
The author just emailed me back asking if I am a current or former TSA employee...not sure where he is going with this or if I will be hearing anything further.
Probably wanting to know how you know that kind of stuff. What you said is definitely not something said by a Kettle.
The author just emailed me back asking if I am a current or former TSA employee...not sure where he is going with this or if I will be hearing anything further.
He's likely not aware of this site, and thinks that only someone with some firsthand inside goods would be that knowledgable about TSA procedure.
At this point, probably thinks he's gonna get the big scoop.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy1369
Do any of you know if BDO's (yet) exist at SMF?
There was a story posted on here about someone getting hassled by one in the public area at SMF. The Spotnik didn't like it when he was told to go pound sand.
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quotes in it, however.
I'm lucky I was shaving with an electric razor when I read this.
