Noted two TSA employees patrolling a terminal at DFW. The were walking through the gate areas playing cop. Near where I was sitting a person had left their baggage unattended for a couple of minutes while they ran to the coffee shop or such. This kept the two TSA types entertained for a good bit of time.

Since when did TSA start walking a beat?

Waste of resources and tax monies.

The walk around whenever they think they can cajole a free soda or muffin or something from one of the terminal vendors.

Two smurfs came into the UA Red Carpet Club at C-17 at IAD a few months ago and sat down at the bar. They weren't too happy when they were told that if they wanted to be served, it would be $50 for a day pass. They had told the matrons they were there "for an inspection" - which they don't have the authority to do anyways.

Disgraceful.

I've noticed this myself for at least 3 years (if not longer) at CMH, particularly in A and C concourses (haven't seen it in B concourse for some reason), and they seem most interested in unattended luggage. I saw it again on my most recent flight (and perhaps last flight) in January.

This strikes me as not objectionable. Is there something I'm missing?

Well ... that unattended luggage was already inspected by TSA at the checkpoint, so why would it be suspicious any longer?

Here bdo's do it pre-checkpoint & have been long as I can remember. I can't remember what class the "gate gropes" are in but they do it on occasions after the checkpoint in the gate areas .

Of course the reaiity is the that gate checkpoint is not reliable, and as we have seen, ample numbers of people have ready access to the secure areas of the terminal without going through any security at all.

Given this and the fact that there is a legitimate fear of thieves (even the ones who don't work for TSA), which fear would lead most people to keep their bags with them, an unattended bag seems worthy of investigation to me.

I'm hard on TSA but this one doesn't bother me.

Wouldn't that seem to be a better place to focus their efforts, rather than wandering around looking for the odd piece of unattended luggage, which is a matter for LEO and eventually the bomb squad?

Sounds like typical behavior. I recalled in a past thread about one of the boys in blue coming into an AA Admirals Club to hit on a very good looking AAngel (or Lounge Dragon depending on your point of view). When he left she, rolled her eyes and said he always came in to remind them, "If there is any trouble, just call on me."

In a Dunkin Donuts line, I overheard a State Trooper at another airport telling his colleague about having to mediate a dispute between Starbucks and a TSA clerk that tried to extort a free muffin. The Trooper was ticked that the clerk tried to play the, "we are both LEOs" card. At yet another airport, I was speaking to a local LEO who said his partner nearly arrested a clerk for taking a sandwich.

What is it with TSA clerks trying to extort food from vendors?

It's "make work" for an overstaffed inefficient waste of tax dollars.

Went through SEA a few weeks ago on a Tuesday night.
Shoe carnival was empty with no line at the DTCs.

To make work for the excess staff, they were doing quick/partial pat-downs of ALL pax AFTER they went through the Nude-e-Scope.
They were not changing gloves after touching all the sheeple.
The sheeple said nothing as it happened.

I had opted out and watched the entire scene while getting groped.

Again, something useless for the excess staff at the Committee for State Security to do.

I've always seen 'em here and there, walking a beat. I guess it's relative: is that more of a waste of money than seeing 10 of them stand around at a checkpoint while only 1 x-ray machine and metal detector is open?

Sort of funny...stories of them cajoling free food. Mall cops just called...*they* think that's lame.

last year I was sitting at PVD watching two surfs "patrol" the airside terminal. Their "patrolling" consisted of walking back and forth, talking sports and current events. They weren't paying one bit of attention to the activities in the terminal.

As the OP noted, a complete waste of our tax $$.

I didn't say it was or wasn't objectionable. I was merely commenting that I have indeed seen this at my home airport over the last few years.

Yes, I didn't mean to characterize your comment as saying that, I guess I was anticipating perhaps what others might say.