Although not directly related, this incident reminds me of something I always wondered prior to 9/11: Why is there not a police officer stationed at every security checkpoint at every airport? The reason I bring this up now is that the only airport where I ever noticed this being standard procedure prior to 9/11 was Dallas Love Field - at every checkpoint, even the one just serving CO's 2 gates, there always was a uniformed member of the Dallas Police sitting there, along with the regular security people. If DAL could manage to do this, why can't other airports?

Especially post-9/11, why is this not possible? As for myself, I'd feel much safer seeing a member of the local police at each checkpoint, compared to federal security screeners lacking high school diplomas or even Barney Fife's in National Guard uniforms carrying M-16's.