Originally Posted by Bart

I encounter this with TSOs a lot. There are two measures for thoroughness. One is a matter of judgment (i.e. did the TSO apply sufficient pressure to theoretically detect a hidden item?). The other is pretty straightforward (i.e. did the TSO find the hidden knife?).

It is not unusual for a TSO who found, say a hidden knife for instance, to still fail the evaluation. If they found the knife strapped to the upper torso but never bothered to pat down the legs, for example, then the overall performance is a failure.

The evaluation process isn't perfect. There is room for improvement, and I'm putting together a set of recommendations (may be pissing in the wind with that, but I think I've established a degree of credibility within TSA). However, it is a fair process. TSOs fail because they did not follow procedures correctly. I have absolutely no uncertainty, doubts, second-thoughts or question about the officers I failed. Conversely, I have no uncertainty, doubts, second-thoughts or question about the officers I passed.

It is what it is.