Explain why you are so scared to be in an airport? I'm not referring to the TSA and/or their rules and policies. I am asking why you feel safer out on the street than in a facility which has a faster police response then anywhere else.

I have always wondered. Where do they get enough LEO's on limited duty disability restrictions to staff the airports? Or are they actually using full-duty personnel for that embarassing job?

The airport PDs for the three airports surrounding me (BWI/IAD/DCA) are all fully-accredited/certified police departments:

• BWI - Maryland Transportation Authority Police
• IAD & DCA - Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police

Their personnel are fully-sworn, active-duty police officers. Front line positions are staffed by full-duty, not light-duty (medically limited) personnel.

Maybe it's bad where you are as far as your Airport PD goes. Feel free to come ride and I will show you how we do things in my neck of the woods. I would put my agency up against any PD in my state as far as tactics, training, special teams, and equipment is concerned.

It's the TSA that worries me. Not their employees specifically ('though some are very questionable), but instead the diversion and hindrance they create to REAL security and real LEOs.

I won't say where, but at a major league sports game, we decided to pull a stunt on the league's private security folks. We were all told well in advance that they'd be checking bags & rooms on the day of the game. No problem. We just spent the days prior to the game loading up the building with all sorts of fun "toys". Day of the game, we all walk in without bags, show ID, get the pat-down then go off to our various offices. The private security folks combed the building looking for anything suspicious. They found nothing. We had a LEO in on the joke bring out our mini-arsenal on display. I see the exact same situation occurring at the airports.

I've yet to see the TSA do anything actually conducive to real security. Unfortunately with the TSA in charge, you don't see anyone else working on bringing real security to airports. Then again, I've never seen a knee-jerk reaction to a problem be an actual solution. At this point, the TSA is the solution to a problem that doesn't exist, while the real problems that exist aren't being addressed.

Yup, you sure can - there are ALL kinds of official-looking metal badges out there (there is, or was, a company which advertises "CCW Permittee" badges in the back of NRA magazines, which I think is a REALLY bad idea personally). The only crime is when one of them is used in an illegal manner, such as to impersonate a law-enforcement official.

Like the TSOfficers at the airport?

Hmm. Dark Blue Shirt, Darker pants, Metal Badge, Ordering people to halt, move forward, show your papers....

Sounds like impersonating a law-enforcement official to me.

This will eventually bite TSA in the derriere! No doubt, a dumb move!

Most likely is. I'm going for training tomorrow which includes receiving the new badge, which according to one of my co-workers I meet occasionally, they will tell you don't pull any undercover cop style crap such as putting the badge in a wallet or putting it on your belt, along with signing paperwork and such.

Oh well, makes it easier to weed-out the wannabe power trippers now.

I disagree, the blue is much better then the white. White sucks at hiding dirt, blue is better. Since I only get one break as I'm a part-timer I don't have time to go change into a new white. You don't see white-collar people doing blue-collar jobs.

Here's my view...

A badge is a badge. Anyone can wear one if they want, but going around pretending you're law enforcement with one is an idiotic move and a person who does so deserves a nightstick to the back of the head by an actual LEO.

LAX has their own police force DCA/IAD have their own police force JFK/LGA/EWR (and some smaller airports) fall under the NY/NJ Port Authority Police who have policing powers in NY and NJ.

These cops are full-fledged police officers.

Having documented the NY/NJ PAPD a number of times, I know the PAPD cops have a hard job with a lot of ground to cover, not just the airports. An additional duty of PAPD airport officers is that many are also crash-rescue firefighters. The PAPD is also the fire service at the airports they cover (nice slogan of guns-n-hoses)

I also expressed my opinion on this subject the first day badges were issued at BWI. My comments seemed to upset at least two DHS PR flaks, so my info must have been correct :0)

My comments are here:
http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/2...hould-tsa.html

BOS has the Massachusetts State Police which has it's own entire Troop (Troop F) dedicated to the airport. It being the State Police, know for their strict physical fitness requirements they are all mostly likely full-duty. However, there is one trooper who I occasionally see, that seems to be a bit portly, usually always carrying the MP5 on a sling, however, he must be full-duty if he's always carrying around firepower like that.

Then there's the Massport Police... but I don't have a clue what they do, I see them rarely. From what I've read they patrol the cruise terminals in South Boston.

But I don't expect the new uniform to garner alot respect... maybe some from the regular Joe Schome types.

But again, considering the fact we go into people's bags, that may be slightly dirty from packed shoes or an idiot bag that has leaking lotion, I'd rather have blue so it doesn't stain as easy so I can at least last the day in somewhat clean shirt until I can get home and toss it in the wash.

Or iron my shirt... and polish my shoes... and trim my hair...
Yes, there are two female supervisors in my checkpoint who seem to love handing out violations to us for having a slightly yellow uniform.

One of my female co-workers had to go buy a new shirt because it was slightly yellowed... and this was right before the supplier, VF Solutions removed the old shirts and pants off their website (Friday, at least according to email.. they'll start selling the new uniforms).

Heck, my short sleeves came with some sort brown spots on the tips of the collars... and these things have gone through over a 100 washes and they haven't gone away!

They want us to wear Oxford shoes... which VF sells, but does not provide as part of the uniform or go buy a pair and make sure their polishable!

Yes, these two seem more concerned with enforcing the uniform policy then enforcing security.

Because the t'rrists know that when they see us not complying with uniform, they'll be able to attack our country!

Or however my dad's joke goes.

I've never heard of an airport PD using officers who were on limited duty. When the City of Reno ran RNO up until the mid-80s, there was a special class of "police security officers" who worked solely at the airport. They had just enough PSOs to fill out their schedule, and when someone took vacation or called in sick, they would backfill with volunteers from patrol, on overtime. I made a lot of money at the airport.

When the Airport Authority of Washoe County (now called the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority) was created as a separate government entity, they had the power to create their own police department, but they didn't. I never understood why. Their "cops" displayed police livery for years, but every time they needed to make an arrest, a city patrol officer would have to respond to complete the process. Eventually, the city made the airport cops Reno PD reserve officers (with police powers only when on duty), and then later on, the AAWC really did create a police department.

Whether an airport is policed by its own agency or by another (sheriff's office, city police, state police, etc.) depends on the local situation, but the airport cops I've seen in recent years were very professional, and I know they have training and qualifications equal to or surpassing surrounding agencies. The aforementioned Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD for short) seldom has to consider an inexperienced recruit, as their application files are full of paper from NYPD and Newark officers looking for a better gig. Many are cross-trained as firefighters, and some as paramedics, as well.

Embarrassing job? Not from where I sit.

The really stupid thing here is that you guys think that we want the freaking heavy chunck of metal pinned to our shirts. Just another item to maintain and keep track of. It's really a safety hazard.

Solely responsible? Surely you don't mean that? How about the airport police, the flight attendants, pilots, and even other passengers? I certainly don't think the TSA is "solely responsible" for my safety when I fly. They're a small piece of the pie.

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