FNT forcing everyone through MMW. Opted out; got a non-intensive patdown. Was expressing my opinion about the process during it.
ETD machine false alarms; three-striper comes over and says we're going to private room for full patdown and to go through all my carryon stuff. I said, no, we'll do the private screening in public. Supervisor says, no can do -- they're not allowed to do that patdown in public. If I wouldn't go to private room, then I was not flying today, and he'd get an LEO to escort me out.
I offered to drop my pants; he said he'd then have an LEO escort me out. I said, Oh, you'd rather touch than look.
As we moved towards private room, I asked where the LEO was (he'd brought it up). He said, if you want an LEO here, then we're done and the LEO will escort you out. I said, I want an LEO as a witness as there are two TSA people and just me -- one word against another.
He then said, ok, I'm not comfortable doing the patdown on you. Let's call the LEO and end this now. I said, fine.
We waited 4 minutes for 2 LEOs to come up, who informed me that they don't have time to come upstairs to the checkpoint for this stuff. I explained to the LEO what was happening. LEO agreed to stay outside the room while the screening went on (which they did). At that point, supervisor says he'll do the patdown after all.
Patdown was more agressive but not intolerable. Supervisor was humming and whistling to himself; I was gritting my teeth and commenting softly.
After that was done and they finally finished with my bags, the supervisor wrote down all info from my boarding pass and ID, and asked for a phone number. I asked if I should expect a visit; he didn't know.
I then asked for his name and badge number. He started chuckling and gave me a single name. I asked, is that first or last. He says, I'm the only supervisor here with that name, so that is enough. (LEos were still standing there.) I again asked for his full name, and he laughed again. I asked why he was laughing at me; he said he was laughing at the situation.
I asked three more times for his name and badge number, and he finally gave me a full name and a badge number. But he wouldn't stand near me so that I could see if it was real or not from his name badge and such.
TSA agents seemed puzzled by my encounter after I told them I fly more than twice a week on average -- "then you should be familiar with the procedures". I said, well, I'll just say I gave a very negative opinion about their procedures. I did ask why the WTMD was ok last week, and this week it's not. "We have a new machine" was the answer.
What a joke. And now, TSA is going to gate-screen our flight, probably just to teach another lesson.
I would ask why you did not stop the screening process and leave the airport? Also, I certainly hope you did not give him your phone number - a made up one, fine, but not one where someone can contact you.
On another issue, it's interesting that the Aukai decision says that screening cannot be stopped but has to be completed once begun, yet here is a supervisor stating that the process could be ended with your being escorted from the airport, and without the threat of a fine no less.