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Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 13982820)
If all they were doing was verifying that the kid was okay, that could be done in the direct presence of the parent, not off to the side within the parent's view.
If, on the other hand, they were trying to figure out whether the kid was being kidnapped, they probably don't have the training to properly interview children ... much less children obviously in distress. All you need is an over-eager TSO trying to find "the big catch" to misinterpret something the child says, or ask a leading question to the kid, and now you've got a false charge against the parent. ("Why are you crying?" "Daddy wouldn't let me play with the gun! He put it in his bag!" Sure, it's the kid's bright pink water gun, but by the time they figure that out, Dad's on the floor in handcuffs ...) |
A TSO is not separating me from my child involuntarily (line of sight but out of earshot is still a separation). They are also not questioning my child, most certainly not while separated from me.
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Originally Posted by RockyBalboa
(Post 13982855)
That's my thing, I can understand if it was a LEO who is trained in situations like that. She was not screaming or dragging her feet to avoid leaving, she was crying. And it wasn't Aunt Bee sweetly asking "Are you ok, sugar?"
It was an interrogation. And it wasn't one TSO. It started with one and ended up with four coming over. My mom asked what the big deal was and then they asked her the "who/what/when/where/why". Royal, thanks for the offer. However I don't know enough about it at this time to proceed other than what happened. In order to proceed I would feel comfortable knowing names and descriptions of all involved. I disagree with this tactic and the actions of the TSO's. They're not child psychologists, guidance counselors or anything other than security agents. |
To plagiarize goalie, "plane" and simple: if TSA thought something was amiss, they should have immediately called in the LEOs and left things to them. It seems as if some screener thought that if he couldn't catch a terrorist, maybe he could catch a kidnapper.
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Originally Posted by elgringito
(Post 13983679)
I completely agree with you. The TSA bashing has gotten so completely one sided that it is surprising to me to see a logical response.
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Anything said in response should have been directed to the parent. Separating the two was completely out of line. I would reemphasize what others upstream have said: You have no other choice but to assume that conversations with a screener of any kind are of a criminal investigation nature. "Just trying to help" in today's TSA culture, on the surface, just isn't a prudent assumption.
I vaguely remember an accusation by a mother that her child was separated from her. This story had such big legs that Blogdad Bob resorted to a denial of service attack on Twitter. Does anyone remember if that incident was also at IAH? |
Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much
(Post 13984227)
You have no other choice but to assume that conversations with a screener of any kind are of a criminal investigation nature. "Just trying to help" in today's TSA culture, on the surface, just isn't a prudent assumption.
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Originally Posted by elgringito
(Post 13983691)
Let's see if I understand your first sentence - the TSA was wrong to ask a potentially intimidated child if they were okay in the "direct presence" of the person who might be the cause of the intimidation? Does that really sound logical to you?
Which is more likely? A kidnapping in progress? Or a young child crying because travel is a stressful experience? If there was real suspicion of a kidnapping in progress, they should've immediately referred the matter to a LEO. Or, take the parent's name off their boarding pass (which the TDC checked, right?) and see if there's a BOLO or an Amber Alert out. |
Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 13984355)
Intimidation??? How about having several adults in authoritarian uniforms separate a crying child from her loving parent, and then pester the crying child with questions about why she's crying? If that was my daughter, such actions would only serve to make her more distressed, not less --- as if it was her fault that she was crying.
Which is more likely? A kidnapping in progress? Or a young child crying because travel is a stressful experience? If there was real suspicion of a kidnapping in progress, they should've immediately referred the matter to a LEO. Or, take the parent's name off their boarding pass (which the TDC checked, right?) and see if there's a BOLO or an Amber Alert out. I am not a parent, but one of the last things I would assume would cause an 11 year old crying would be the "stress" of travel. What would make more sense to you, adding to the "stress" by involving a LEO without asking the child what was bothering them or immediately holding the traveller up to await involvement of a LEO? If the TSA representative had done that - the indignation on this board would probably have been worse. |
Originally Posted by elgringito
(Post 13984516)
What would make more sense to you, adding to the "stress" by involving a LEO without asking the child what was bothering them or immediately holding the traveller up to await involvement of a LEO? If the TSA representative had done that - the indignation on this board would probably have been worse.
And do you really think the child knows the difference between a real LEO and TSO's in police-style uniforms? |
Originally Posted by doober
(Post 13984140)
To plagiarize goalie, "plane" and simple: if TSA thought something was amiss, they should have immediately called in the LEOs and left things to them. It seems as if some screener thought that if he couldn't catch a terrorist, maybe he could catch a kidnapper.
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Originally Posted by Trollkiller
(Post 13984609)
So you would want them to escalate this instead of simply asking "Why are you crying?"
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Originally Posted by Trollkiller
(Post 13984609)
So you would want them to escalate this instead of simply asking "Why are you crying?"
Let a TSO remove a child from my immediate vicinity, and I will be placing myself right back next to my child. Let a TSO prevent me from moving to my child in any physical manner and I will treat it as assault/battery and attempted kidnapping and handle accordingly. |
Originally Posted by Trollkiller
(Post 13984609)
So you would want them to escalate this instead of simply asking "Why are you crying?"
When they went through security the TSA people pulled them aside and asked why my sister was crying. Further, you don't ask a child why she is crying. Instead, make a statement: "You must be very sad because you are crying" and let the child take it from there. |
Originally Posted by Ari
(Post 13984589)
You take their information, let them go and let the LEO's follow up immideately at the gate if there is suspicion. You don't conduct your own criminal investigation and you don't detain anyone.
And do you really think the child knows the difference between a real LEO and TSO's in police-style uniforms? |
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