Originally Posted by
ScatterX
I agree this would be a huge flop. My estimate is 99.99% would not qualify as a LEO and essential none (except possibly former military or other LEOs) would be good at it. If these people could be LEOs, they would be. No sane person would take the molester job when they could work for the airport police. The exception are retired military/LEOs that may have age (or eyesight, or other) issues.
There is no reason that these new armed TSOs would have to come from the ranks of current staff. They could be new hires, or more likely, they could be transfered from other federal law enforcement agencies. This may improve the culture of TSA. I have far more respect for the FBI, DEA, and even CBP than I do for the TSA. A few former FBI officers to keep the TSOs in line may not be a bad thing.
Originally Posted by
RadioGirl
There was a story from the early days of the TSA by a journalist who applied for a TSA screening job, just to see how rigorous the "standards" were. From memory, they never bothered to follow up her references or do the real background check. They were so desperate to staff the checkpoints that they took a lot of people without any real scrutiny. I can't see that this would be any different.
That was when TSA was new and they had to get every checkpoint in the country staffed in a short amount of time. They actually issued waivers of many of the requirements. As the agency has matured, this is less of a problem.
Originally Posted by
TheRoadie
Not to mention, as has been pointed out, the checkpoint would then lose its administrative search status.
Why would it lose its administrative search status? Whether or not it's an administrative search has no connection to what weapons they carry.