Originally Posted by
jkhuggins
It's not uncommon in other public-sector positions. A good friend of mine is a public school teacher. They're required by law to report suspected child abuse, with serious criminal consequences if they fail to do so. This mandatory reporting requirement applies 24/7; if they suspect abuse happening in their apartment complex, or at church, or in public, they have to report it there, too.
So ... does being a TSO rise to that level? Clearly, the SOP says it does. Should it? Opinions will obviously vary.
As a public health official and EMT, I'm also a "required reporter" of child abuse, in any context, by statute. However, I'm in no way legally required to report a bank robbery or shop lifting or any criminal act. (What one does as a good citizen is, of course, another thing.)
The difference is: when I report child abuse, I'm a government actor acting as required by
law. A screener who reports the odd doobie in a carry-on is a government actor acting as required by
policy.
~~ Irish