At SDF I had a similar experience during a secondary gate screening. Aircraft was boarding, I was pulled aside, and was not only told to open by belt buckle, but to open my pants and I was searched (in public) in the groin area standing with my pants open while people next to me are giving their BP's to the gate agent and boarding. The security ***hole claimed I could be "hiding a weapon down there" and he rattled on about having to do it because he removed "contraband" from my carry-on - 4-5 matchbooks from Marriott hotels -- I was told like a child I could only have *one*. [when I travel, it's common for me just to toss the hotel matchbooks into my carryon and use them later].

When I protested (I did loudly), I was told I *would* miss my flight if they had to do it in a "private area" and the screener then threatened me with arrest (**** him) if I didn't comply when I made a remark about being treated as if I was in a communist bloc country 20 yrs ago. The goon even had the balls to wish me a nice day (in a very sarcastic tone) to which I sarcasticly replied with a remark about the Gestapo, but unfortunately I think my remark went over his head - but the airline employee next to me had a good laugh.

An airline employee who witnessed the whole episode went down the jetway with me to board the plane. On our walk down the jetway she apologized on behalf of the airline (COx)-- but it wasn't her fault so I told her that and thanked her. I was the last person to board the plane and the door to the EMB-145 was closed immediately after I got on the aircraft for an immediate pushback to IAH.

To make matters worse, after getting on the aircraft, I noticed a few items missing from my carry-on including a camera. #$ # @!!#0 theives.

Upon arrival at IAH, I talked to a Houston police officer about what happened and asked for his suggestions (which was to file a criminal complaint against the security employee with the local police at SDF & to write some letters). He was a talkitive fellow and even said this wasn't the first time he's heard of such things being done. He said a wand around the (crotch) area would be sufficient (unless it beeped, which would require the metal to be identified but not a gloved search of the crotch area in public).

I then went to the CO Customer Counter and made a complaint about the items I was missing after a secondary search. I also let them know what was done in the search and that I was not happy. They made a phone call to SDF and had an employee do a check with lost & found as well as check the gate for my missing items and none were found (I hate thieves!).

Upon returning to Louisville I tried to make a complaint with the airport police at SDF as the IAH police officer had suggested -- and the police officer said he couldn't file a report unless I had the name of the security agent, etc... and told me that I should go downtown to the Hall of Justice warrants desk and file a report down there. At that point I gave up with that aspect.

Anyone familiar with how they operate at the Hall of Justice / warrants desk in Louisville/Jefferson County would know I likely would not of gotten anywhere.

I did write several letters about the incident (RAA, TSA, Congressmen/women, local officials) and the only replies I got were from my Congresspeople and a few elected officials. The RAA and TSA never bothered to respond.

Granted this occured over a year ago when the TSA was making their transition at SDF, there is no excuse for what happened. I was violated through a near "strip-search" & stolen from.

Hell, people being arrested on misdeameanor charges cannot even be searched like this at the local jail. The Jefferson County Jail was actually sued in a class-action lawsuit in Federal Court where it was ruled that the police/corrections employees could not strip search those being arrested on misdemeanors, and the definition of a strip search included searches done where clothing like your pants would be undone but not completely removed.

I haven't seen or heard about this this happening lately, but I've heard others were violated with similar "searches" about the same time it happened to me last year.

Best,

SDF_Traveler


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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin