Airport workers pass surprise security test

Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2007 12:00 AM

PHOENIX - When airport restaurant cook Jose Vezquez clocked out of work at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the Transportation Security Administration officers were waiting for him.

The TSA is ratcheting up unannounced employee searches at the eighth-busiest airport in the country.

On Tuesday, the Homeland Security agency searched the cook and 31 other Sky Harbor workers during a surprise check for weapons or other suspicious items.


An estimated 31,000 people work at Sky Harbor. Maintaining tight employee security helps keep the 41 million passengers who pass through Sky Harbor in a year safe, TSA officials say.

"The idea is to provide unpredictability," said Paul Armes, federal security director at the airport.

Aside from some pepper spray, no weapons were found on Tuesday, TSA officials said.

The random checks are part of the Aviation Direct Access Screening Program, which began last year.

The screenings come as the TSA and the airport industry work on a six-point program to scrutinize workers even more carefully than before.

And one recent incident - alleged gun-running by an Orlando, Fla., airport worker in March - has drawn attention to potential security breaches.

So far, about 24 TSA security teams at Sky Harbor have been trained for the surprise searches, Armes said.

Within a few months, all of the 1,000 TSA workers at Sky Harbor will have been trained to perform them Armes said.

Im sure Jose has plenty of sharp objects in the kitchen.

Also in theory Jose would be allowed to have his "tools" in the gate area if they were under his control.

Great example of what TSA is trying to accomplish but they should have picked a gate agent or ramp worker.

How many Messa employees have been caught with guns at work this year?

A lot of good it does to check someone ON THE WAY OUT of the airport.

Having pepper spray is a minor comment in this press release. If a passenger had some? Look out!

That's TSA logic for ya!

Excuse my language but a crock of S...

Only to themselves does it make them look important. I agree totally---what a crock of sh*t.

I wonder what happens if an employee tells them to get bent?

They lose their badge on the spot and probably their job.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D052; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320)

Just curious because I don't know the answer: Do service-industry employees like this poor guy make more than someone doing the identical job at an Applebee's at the Mall? In his line of work, he could certainly get a job anywhere for considerably less hassle. Why would anyone put up with this crap unless there was a huge salary or benefit advantage?

I thought TSA's mandate was checkpoints and luggage, not frisking people once in the terminal.

Thanks for checking the people leaving to make sure they're safe.

I don't think it's legal. If it is I want chapter & verse & that's what they would need

Can't speak for other airports, but my son who is a high school senior works at Starbucks in our airport & he makes a little more than he was offered by another place outside the airport.