Originally Posted by Wiirachay

While a lot of people have issues with security personnel of all levels, i.e. police, TSA, CBP, can't simple training of these people help make their work environment better and the environment better for passengers?

* Teach them how to use soft skills to emotionally disarm and get passengers to relax. If passengers fail to relax, then that's a sign something's wrong. Keep smiling and keeping personal ego at bay while searching further. It'll be even more exciting and fun catching a passenger with contraband that way. (There's a good SNL skit where an attractive CPB lady at an airport got drug dealers and others to confess to her. You get the idea.)

* Check ego at the door. Smile. Have a sinister smile if you think you're about to make a bust but still need to further investigate.

* Only use the authoritative words if you think passenger is going to attack you or if you have to run after them - not to protect your ego just because a passenger demands politeness or civility.

* Don't ever yell unless you're running after someone and trying to arrest them. What about the guy peeing on the carousel? Can I yell at him?

e.g. "Please place the second black bag on table and open it for me for inspection."
"Ma'am. Just relax. I'm just going to search the bag, and you can watch."
"I'm sorry, sir. This beef can't enter the United States per agriculture policy."
"That's such a lovely diamond ring! Where did you get it?" -- Good way to see if the passenger acquired the ring abroad and failed to declare it.

I've seen some good cops and CPB people conduct their jobs remaining vigilant while maintaining a calm and civilized atmosphere. Is this too hard to ask for? Unfortunately, some passengers don't cooperate with this spirit.

I'd actually like to give a shot at being an auxiliary (volunteer) police officer at my city to see what it's like. Which city is that?