Following is the response from the PHX TSA office to my complaint letter :

"I received your email and wanted to respond to your April 3, 2011
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Phoenix-Sky Harbor
concerns. We take your complaint seriously, engaging our Senior
Screening Managers to ensure our processes are conducted accurately and
with consideration for passenger sensitivity. With that goal in mind,
we completed a fact finding investigation and video review of your
families' screening experience at Sky Harbor and found our
Transportation Security Officers (TSO) did not deviate from currently
mandated screening processes. Every person and item must be screened
before entering each secured area, and the way screening is conducted is
important.

Although our TSOs did follow TSA protocol, we nonetheless understand and
regret the distress your family experienced. You mentioned the pat-down
procedure caused significant distress for your mother and you believe
your family "was singled out for preferred treatment". The selection of
passengers for additional screening may appear inconsistent and
arbitrary as you have indicated. The intensive nature of additional
screening also may seem to indicate that an individual is regarded as
high risk or a security threat. Neither impression is accurate.
Whenever a passenger alarms the detection equipment, TSOs must conduct
additional screening to locate and resolve the source of the anomaly.
The resolution pat-down was conducted as required. Likewise, TSOs are
required to be sensitive and considerate, and are trained to explain
what they are doing and what will happen next in the process. This was
certainly a challenge for the officers with respect to the associated
language barrier presented by both your wife and mother.

We also understand your frustration at having lost a valued item at the
checkpoint and were pleased to secure and return your item promptly. I
trust our Found Property personnel were professional in returning your
watch. Additionally, if you still would like to obtain a copy of the
screening video please follow the FOIA request directions below. This
process will provide the means to obtain the video you are requesting."