Originally Posted by
Trollkiller
It is perfectly acceptable to ask a child why they are crying, even if you are wearing a faux police uniform.
The OP stated the child was kept in line of sight with the mother. The mother could have regained total control of the child at any time.
The TSOs did the right thing by checking on the welfare of the child before escalating it to a LEO.
Would you be OK with a random adult (not in a uniform or any real for faux authority position) coming up and asking your 12-year-old child why she was upset? Asking you to step aside while they asked the question? In an airport? Shopping mall? On the street?
What about a 10-year old? 6-year old? 2-year old? Where do you draw the line? Kids cry. Adults cry too. Big difference between a kid crying and a kid screaming/kicking/resisting/attempting-to-escape.
I don't seem much difference between a TSO and a random adult on the street. (I think based on recent "isolated incidents" the random adult on the street may be less likely to be a criminal than a TSO.)
No where in the OP's story did they state the TSOs were rude, overbearing, abusive or licking their lips in hopes of the big catch.
4 strangers in uniform ganging up on and interrogating a child is unquestionably overbearing IMO. Interrogating the parent when she questions the process may well have been overbearing and abusive.
And I doubt the mom felt she could have regained control at any time with at least 4 uniformed TSOs in position to stand between her and her daughter.