Article: Even TSA Employees Are Scamming
 

Even TSA employees are scamming
I initially wondered if he was referring to one of those airport employees who meet flights with wheeelchairs, but several times in the article he mentions her "TSA Uniform". I don't recall the wheelchair valets at EWR wearing anything that resembles the TSA blue shirt.

Awesome Find, RxFlyer!

I'm reposting the link, to better emphasis the title and source. Here it is:

New York Post: Even TSA employees are scamming (Last Updated: 6:36 AM, September 11, 2011)

This article, by columnist Phil Mushnick, describes a uniformed TSA Employee who was soliciting bribes while in uniform! This uniformed TSA employee took bribes in exchange for taking groups of able-bodied passengers around the lengthy line at the TSA-staffed security line at Newark. One person in the group would ride in a wheelchair, pushed by the uniformed TSA employee, while the rest of the group followed.

The column describes how the author personally participated in this scheme!

Here is the wikipedia entry for the author: Phil Mushnick (Wikipedia)

I predict that this story will get lots of traction in the media in the coming days. It appeared in a reputable newspaper and was written by a reputable, mainstream Sports columnist -- we'll be hearing more about it.

I also predict that the DHS OIG will come down hard on TSA staff at Newark.

Which will involve a person having to prove that they really are crippled.

Oh, I can see it now.

TSO: "Get out of that chair and walk, darn it! Walk! Now!"

I wonder how many folks will be pushed into falling flat on their face through the unlicensed practice of medicine in and around checkpoints.

My hope is that it doesn't happen to anyone, of course - but if it does, I hope there are plenty around to record the entire interaction. It should make for some sort of very juicy lawsuit against TSA, and perhaps even the airport.

$10 get a cut in the line. I wonder what $10,000 would get you.... or $100,000. It's like the old joke.... once they've confirmed they're for sale it is just haggling over the price.

If they work for TSA is the question of being for sale still open?

It sounds much more like a contract employee than a TSA employee.

This sounds more like a dishonest Skycap providing wheel chair services to jump the queue, but I suspect we'll hear more on this.

2nd point, NTSB employees do not work TSA checkpoints; the NTSB investigates aircraft incidents and accidents.

My guess also. Considering the fact that some skycap companies do provide security services... like Huntleigh/ICTS. Or that the fact they all do here after hours when the last flights have pushed.

Here at BOS, a few airlines such as JetBlue and the int'l airlines over at Terminal E utilize the services of Fight Services & Systems (FSS) who wear brown uniform shirts. Well a few months ago, the ones who are queue minders/airline revenue enforcers got upgraded to blue uniforms with generic security officer patches. Don't know if that also applies to the skycaps, because I haven't been over to C in a while.

So depending on when I fly through and which airline I am flying, I may be handled by a private screener and not a federal officer?

There are very few things that get me really riled, but abusing disabled or handicapped folks is one of them.

If this ever happens to me, I guarantee you I will not damage my body further. If necessary, I will slide to the floor and start crawling. I will be very vocal (but cheerful - "hey folks, I feel safe down here on the floor, don't you feel safer now?") about the fact that I need help (but not from TSA) because TSA is making me do this as a condition of flying.

If you mean here in Boston... the answer is no.

The only private screeners are at the SPP/opt-out airports.

I think BB has claimed it was a skycap.

However, one of our esteemed members who says he/she is a screener, has claimed that he/she has taken disabled individuals in chairs from the front door of the airport to the checkpoint, so we can't entirely rule out it being a screener.

IIRC, that screener (real or alleged) didn't mention how lucrative the practice was!

:D