Normally, I can't find much to disagree with what you write, Coach, and I here I think you're seeing the underlying issue but giving him too much leeway. Real LEOs have only one thing as their stock in trade: their integrity. LEOs don't make and sell widgets, they act to enforce laws made by the legislature and their task is to present their observations and, in some cases, opinions at trial making their integrity central to what they do.

For example, a LEO sees a driver run a light, makes the stop, writes the ticket, testifies at trial to his observations; conviction depends, in part, on his integrity: does the judge believe him? Find the knife near the dead body, photograph it, secure it, impound it, then testify at trial to how and where you found it; is the officer's testimony on how he came to find the knife to be believed? It's about his integrity. Mark Fuhrman didn't get in trouble over a word, his problem was his choice to deny what was otherwise overwhelming evidence which not only allowed him to be painted a racist but to be held up before the jury as unbelievable: lacking integrity (whether or not the underlying reason was a real or perceived racist attitude).

McClain blew it here but not by trying to get in wearing his uniform and, at the end of the day, not by lying to TSA. When it comes down to it, his bigge4st mistake will be, regardless of what he did or didn't say to the TSA, when he got back to the department to face the complaint from the airport police and when he would have been required to respond to a request for an explanation from his supervisor, most probably in the form of a written memo, and THAT's where he would have denied the prisoner transport story which would have lead to the polygraph (however reliable). Then, being "less that truthful in the memo," is what would have got him fired.

For example, writing in a memo something like, "I didn't say I was there to transport a prisoner," where there's ample evidence to the contrary, is what gets a LEO fired: his credibility is shot. If he'd instead written (assuming the situation played out this way) something like, "when the TSA guy asked if I did prisoner transport, I said yes. I wasn't up front with him and should have explained that wasn't why I was there this time. I mislead him, I should have been more complete in my reply" that would have got him a suspension (maybe a termination) but it wouldn't have resulted in his professional certification being pulled, too.

Without his integrity, McClain really doesn't have the ability to continue in a position as a LEO and termination is the only realistic option.

+1 ^

I think you meant SIDA badge. He does not have authorization to entrance the sterile areas.

Ooh, I think that's a bit simplistic. I agree that it's important/desirable for LEOs to be honest (in the widest sense of the word) but there are many other required qualities too: physical stamina, self-control, insight, instinct, whatever.

I am very far from someone who believes that cops can do no wrong but I don't think this necessarily should have led to termination, if it was just that he told a lie to walk through security (which was wrong). Without wanting unfairly prejudge anything, I would have that Rogers, AR was the kind of place where good ol' boys in the PD take care of each other, even if they act like asshats occasionally. And for that reason, I suspect that something important is missing from this story...

Not all airport badges are SIDA.

The police officer in question lied. He used the fact he was still in uniform to bypass the checkpoint. He got caught, not by fellow officers, but by others at the airport. He's got either a near terminal case of the stupids or his integrity bucket has no bottom in it. Either way he should never wear a police uniform again.

We've seen corner cutting in government officials regarding ethics (i.e. Gov Blago) and when a person who is authorized to use force (up to and including lethal force) shows his lack of integrity by lying, he doesn't need that job.

Why is the Feds not prosecuting the case?

Probably because the AUSA wants no part of it.

Ah, well, these are questions that aren't answered solely by his conduct on that day. But I think we're thinking along the same lines. Exactly what kind of person do you have to be to get kicked off the po-lice in small town Arkansas?

Removed before the taste police remove it.

Folks, now that I've had time to sleep on this I do agree that he should no longer work in le.

I would almost be willing to bet if he just told the truth he would've been escorted in by one of the airport leos & none of this would've happened.

i happen to agree but i'm still wondering if the tsa will ever admit that the same holds true for alvin crabtree bringing his gun to work?

There's a lot more to it than that. If he were out of uniform and not carrying a sidearm, then yeah, certainly, that's true. Hook him up with a gate pass and send him on his way. That's not the case here, and it couldn't have been the case because he was in uniform, and he did have his service weapon.

However, things are different when it's an armed LEO gaining entrance. It's more complicated, and the procedures themselves are NOT well known. You see the part where the LEO goes up the exit lane, signs a book, gets his credentials checked, and goes inside.

Unfortunately, that's only about 20% of the process. Now it is, anyway, as a direct result of people dressing up like LEOs and presenting fake credentials. Now, because of that, there's a whole lot more to do, and it's that part that I'm not terribly certain I'm at liberty to discuss.

He STILL has to have permission from someone outside the TSA, whether he's armed or not. If the airport police want to clear him, that's on them. Again, you either need an airport/airline ID, boarding pass or gate pass to get through the checkpoint, regardless if you are screened. In the rare exceptions to these rules, the airport or airport police become the permitting authority, as they either clear or escort the individual. Yes, I know there are exceptions for certain classes of individuals, but this does not apply.

I know the TSA recently changed the way orders for LEOs are verified by sending back a code that the TSOs need to see to be allowed through the screening to avoid that situation.