Question on SPOT program
May 9, 2009 | 10:59 am
#46
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May 9, 2009 | 11:25 am
#47
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May 9, 2009 | 3:19 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2008
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The problem with the prohibited items list is that it is vague, open to interpretation, and TSO's can't remember what the SOP states. We've heard it all; gel packs needed to keep medicine cold are rejected, 3.4 ounce bottles rejected because they don't have the manufacturers label on them, sterile medical supplies opened and contimated for inspection, and medicine rejected because did not have a prescription label on it.
May 9, 2009 | 3:23 pm
#51
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Last edited by magellan315; May 9, 2009 at 5:24 pm
May 9, 2009 | 3:27 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 684
The high failure rate for Red Team tests is known fact, a quick Google search will help. Unfortunately you can't blame this all on the x-ray equipment. My personal favorite was a Red Team member who strapped a small IED to his back with a back brace. When the TSO went to pat him down he showed the guy his brace, told him his back hurt, and asked if he could leave it on. The TSO let him keep it on and the IED got into the sterile area.
Last edited by magellan315; May 11, 2009 at 6:48 am
May 9, 2009 | 5:05 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 684
Take for example another recent thread where a passenger with a butterfly computer bag was told by the TSO he had to take his lap top out because the bag had handles. When he reminded the TSO about it she raised her voice told him he was wrong and he should check the website. Or even something as simple as the passport card being rejected as valid ID.
Last edited by magellan315; May 9, 2009 at 5:25 pm
May 9, 2009 | 7:17 pm
#55
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It's a matter of having the right people for the job. Unfortunately, the flip side of that is that there's room for the wrong people who give the program a bad name.
I know the program works. Did something similar to that in my prior life; so no one has to convince me. However, I'm concerned that every time a BDO discovers another drug smuggler and some staff weenie at TSA brags about it in a public release, I believe it reinforces a belief from other BDOs that this is what they're supposed to do.
The other thing is, for what it's worth, I think the BDO program's days are numbered. With a federal budget that is spiraling out of control in other agencies, I think it becomes increasingly difficult for TSA to justify having someone who isn't picking a hand wand, isn't standing at the WTMD, isn't looking at x-ray images or isn't physically searching a bag for prohibited items as having the same importance as TSOs. If a BDO were to nail an honest-to-goodness bad guy who came to the airport with the specific intent of hijacking an airplane, then that would be the program's salvation. And it only has to open once! Until that happens, I think Congress will eventually stop financing the program if the only thing that comes out of it is nailing some idiot who had a stash of dope in his carry-on.
I don't blame the BDOs for this; I blame the staff puke at TSA who tries to turn it into a PR windfall.
I know the program works. Did something similar to that in my prior life; so no one has to convince me. However, I'm concerned that every time a BDO discovers another drug smuggler and some staff weenie at TSA brags about it in a public release, I believe it reinforces a belief from other BDOs that this is what they're supposed to do.
The other thing is, for what it's worth, I think the BDO program's days are numbered. With a federal budget that is spiraling out of control in other agencies, I think it becomes increasingly difficult for TSA to justify having someone who isn't picking a hand wand, isn't standing at the WTMD, isn't looking at x-ray images or isn't physically searching a bag for prohibited items as having the same importance as TSOs. If a BDO were to nail an honest-to-goodness bad guy who came to the airport with the specific intent of hijacking an airplane, then that would be the program's salvation. And it only has to open once! Until that happens, I think Congress will eventually stop financing the program if the only thing that comes out of it is nailing some idiot who had a stash of dope in his carry-on.
I don't blame the BDOs for this; I blame the staff puke at TSA who tries to turn it into a PR windfall.
Look at all of the extra people available for other duties.
May 10, 2009 | 3:52 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 576
The other thing is, for what it's worth, I think the BDO program's days are numbered. With a federal budget that is spiraling out of control in other agencies, I think it becomes increasingly difficult for TSA to justify having someone who isn't picking a hand wand, isn't standing at the WTMD, isn't looking at x-ray images or isn't physically searching a bag for prohibited items as having the same importance as TSOs. If a BDO were to nail an honest-to-goodness bad guy who came to the airport with the specific intent of hijacking an airplane, then that would be the program's salvation. And it only has to open once! Until that happens, I think Congress will eventually stop financing the program if the only thing that comes out of it is nailing some idiot who had a stash of dope in his carry-on.
I don't blame the BDOs for this; I blame the staff puke at TSA who tries to turn it into a PR windfall.
I don't blame the BDOs for this; I blame the staff puke at TSA who tries to turn it into a PR windfall.
Last edited by tsadude1; May 10, 2009 at 4:08 am
May 10, 2009 | 4:11 am
#58
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
I find your comments rather interesting. BDOs dont require millions of dollars in equipment to operate unlike the checkpoint. BDOs are mobile and forward deployed. BDOs dont require constant supervision and actually have had successes http://www.orlandosentinel.com/commu...,3978505.story. I get a real chuckle of of all the behavioral expertswho always state something like "ohh, they only have caught druggies and felons and blah blah blah. Could some of you experts give us BDOs a clear defining difference between a terrorist and a person hauling drugs? Probably not because you haven't been in this position and spent endless hours and years wathching people. Whats the problem if a person displaying behaviors turns out to be a wanted felon trying to leave or a dealer? Are you guys advocating that these dirtbags should be given a free pass? Please give me a real answer and not one of these F'd up "your only supposed to look for terrorist" answers. So lets hear it, how does a terrorist behave?
May 10, 2009 | 4:25 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
I find your comments rather interesting. BDOs dont require millions of dollars in equipment to operate unlike the checkpoint. BDOs are mobile and forward deployed. BDOs dont require constant supervision and actually have had successes http://www.orlandosentinel.com/commu...,3978505.story. I get a real chuckle of of all the behavioral expertswho always state something like "ohh, they only have caught druggies and felons and blah blah blah. Could some of you experts give us BDOs a clear defining difference between a terrorist and a person hauling drugs? Probably not because you haven't been in this position and spent endless hours and years wathching people. Whats the problem if a person displaying behaviors turns out to be a wanted felon trying to leave or a dealer? Are you guys advocating that these dirtbags should be given a free pass? Please give me a real answer and not one of these F'd up "your only supposed to look for terrorist" answers. So lets hear it, how does a terrorist behave?
Several officials said the man was "acting strange" and questioned his mental stability.
Your BDOs went fishing and got lucky, nothing more. A proper search of his luggage would have found the possible pipe bomb parts.
Don't get me wrong it was a good catch and the person in Jamaica this guy was gunning for is happy.
Sorry this does not support the BDOs as it seems anyone with eyes would have noticed this nut job.
The clear difference between a drug mule and a terrorist, the drug mule is carrying drugs, the terrorist is not.
Search the ALL luggage properly and then make sure it is secured afterward and search EVERYONE that enters the sterile area for weapons, explosive and incendiaries and we won't have to worry about the terrorists.