Was this a FAM in ABQ?
 

This morning as we were going through the handicapped lane prior to entering the security area, a man came up behind us and identified himself to the TSO as "law enforcement officer, travelling armed". The TSO asked us to move aside, looked at the guy's credentials and sent him on his way. Nothing unusual about his appearance - 30's, average length hair, casual slacks, button down shirt with no tie, open sport coat. He was long gone by the time
we even got to the bins, and I didn't see him again. Does a FAM identify himself verbally as armed?

it could've been any other federal law enforcement. they're allowed to carry their weapons on board

any armed leo must i/d themselves at the checkpoint tho i doubt you saw a fam as making a statement that obvious in front of other pax is "not a good idea" (and fwiw, the fam's i've seen go thru security, generally go thru the exit after i/d'ing themselves and showing a bp to the tsa employee guarding the exit [at sfo & lax, it's very very very obvious])

SAme thing happens at DCA. All armed federal LEO's bypass the security checkpoints by going over to the exit area and showing their creds to the security on duty.

hide in plane sight i guess but let the whole world see you. :rolleyes:

They often have little get-togethers in the alcoves on the concourses at DCA. :rolleyes:

The only thing missing is a big neon arrow that says "gun available".

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At what airport were you? I wouldn't be surprised if FAMs did this at some locations.

Yes, everyone takes turns bringing the chips and salsa.

You guys should try that. Or trade books or something. It might make it look like a real social gathering. :D

Doubtful
 

Doubttful it was a FAM for reasons stated in previous posts; but why are
you concerned to begin with?

FAMs haven't need to go airside via regular security checkpoints. And most FEDERAL LEOs don't announce themselves within earshot of the general public, let alone use regular security checkpoints (generally).

Spiff does have a point about DCA though.

Some days you have a literal army of "armed with weapon" passing through certain concourses... and NOT all armed FEDS travelling via DCA are common LEOS (in the sense of the word normally in use) as an ordinary citizen might think. :rolleyes:

Why is this even being discussed in a public forum?

Good point.
But the inquiring minds of many nosy cocktail-circuit FT'ers want to
know everything. Even things that neither concern them directly and
truly is none of their business.

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I don't have a problem with this at all. If FTers pick out FAMs all the time or if other cops get in the way, there's obviously an OPSEC problem. Although I clearly have a big cost-effectiveness issue with FAMs, you might as well dress them like the Guardian Angels for all they corporately care about OPSEC.

because supposedly it's a free country and we can.

Do you think we should stop people discussing such things?

Oh, come on. Do you really think the "bad guys" aren't aware of this already?

When law enforcement officers make their presence known in such an obvious way, it is just plain silly to suggest that we shouldn't talk about it in a public forum.