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Subscribe to RSSThe Transportation Security Administration on Friday proposed firing 25 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport and suspending 19 others as a result of an investigation into improper screening of checked luggage.
The alleged screening failures at one of the New York area's three major airports were uncovered late last year after surveillance cameras were installed in one of its 25 screening rooms to check for possible thefts, the TSA said.
Eight employees were fired in June in the investigation. The latest action raises to 52 the number of TSA employees at Newark caught up in the investigation, making it the biggest single disciplinary action taken by the TSA at a U.S. airport.
The latest group cited includes screeners, as well as managers accused of failing to effectively supervise their employees.
Related: Baggage handler at JFK gets life in prison for smuggling drugs
All the screeners cited for failing to follow procedures were removed from their jobs in November and December and given non-screening duties pending completion of the investigation, the TSA said.
The TSA, which has more than 1,400 employees at Newark, said the screeners failed to ensure bags were properly screened before flights departed, but it did not provide more detail.
"The decision to take disciplinary actions today with the proposed removal of 25 individuals and suspension of 19 others reaffirms our strong commitment to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to hold all our employees to the highest standards of conduct and accountability," said Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokeswoman.
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The theft investigation, which the TSA said was the reason the cameras were installed, did not lead to any charges. The TSA said an employee who was a suspect in that probe ended up resigning, though the cameras were left in place, turning up the screening lapses.
The previous biggest disciplinary action taken by the TSA was last year at Honolulu International Airport, where 48 employees were proposed for firing or suspension, also for failing to properly screen luggage.
All 44 employees cited Friday have the right to appeal. The proposed suspensions would be for up to 14 days, and without pay.
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Leave a Comment:
It's called "Security Theater" (look it up).
They SIMULATE screening, because it's less work than ACTUALLY screening.
Besides, what do they care? Their government paychecks are still clearing the bank, and they aren't flying on the airplanes they screen luggage for.
It's nice to think that this time, with the security camera left in place after the initial investigation, it's the TSA people who are losing privacy.
If you read the article VERY carefully, you will see that the TSA installed "security" cameras to spy on TSA em,plyees, not to see if procedures were being followed, but in response to complaints about thefts. The carefully-worded TSA statemnent never quite states that they people are being fired for theft.
Why? Because it is official TSA policy not to fire people for theft. Their official "line" is that it undermines the credibility of the Agency as a whole. But who said they had any credibility to start with? The TSA has spent billions on "security theater" and never caught a single terrorist or stopped a single terrorist plot.
The TSA steals passenger items daily. The easiest to confirm is that on the TSA web site they claim to donate all confiscated knives and similar items to the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts' site says that they have never been offered confiscated items and would refuse them in any case.
Here is a listing fresh off eBay where TSA employees are selling YOUR confiscated items --- and there are hundreds of similar listings:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-55-Knives-Airport-lot-Multi-Tools-Leatherman-Multi-function-TSA-/170921325132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27cbb4724c
Well, did you expect anything else? Put a bunch of people like (fill in the blank) types in front of other people's stuff with nobody looking over their shoulder and you are 'shocked and saddened' by this action?
Why is this information even being published...??!?!? Does the TSA think the public is going to congratulate them for being tough on their employees..? Or will this publicity just cause those shoe bombers & underware bombers to start packing their stuff in their checked luggage because now they know noone is really checking any of that? Gee, I feel safer already!
They're not being "tough" on their employees. They caught them stealing from passengers' nags and are accusing them only of "not following procedures." That is not being "tough" in my book!
Apparently Procedure #1 is to not steal stuff when the surveillance cameras are watching.
Yeah, gee, 44 isolated incidents. Who could have imagined?
Those TSA employees are a major drain on the budget, there has got to be a simpler and less expensive way of insuring the safety of air travel. It would appear though that the vast majority of them take their job seriously and are earning their pay.
The vast majority of them DO NOT take their job seriously. That's the whole point.
The TSA put ONE camera, in ONE of TWENTY-FIVE rooms , and caught this many people. What makes you think anything is different in the other 24 rooms. They were only checking FOUR percent of them. It's a pretty safe bet that the other 96% are pretty much doing the same thing.
As long as TSA with its contract for the airlines cares more about money for their front office than questionable hiring with low wages - passengers cannot be safe nor with their luggage and valuables... I have been to Newark airport many times and feel more criminals are employed there than at any other airport.
Hats off to whomever gave them the contract before and after 911. Most likely the worst airport in regards for security I had ever been through. 52 fired - you can bet there are more doing the same thing there.
TSA didn't exist before 9/11. TSA was created in the wake of the tragedy and placed under Homeland Security in 2002.
We say something as simple "bomb" in any context and get arrested all in the name of security. They commit a crime and actually circumvent the same so called security and get suspension. Why not prosecuted?????
@CDP47,
Over 7,000 TSA employees have been fired for theft from passengers and airline employees and less than twenty have ever been prosecuted.
Please note that they got in trouble for not following procedure; not for treating passengers like the scum of the Earth.
They should be treated no different than personnel in the military. If a person does not like the conditions of employment go find another job. Take a copy of the UCMJ re-title it and charge them with dereliction of duty and theft. You could give them a Bad Conduct Discharge which would not supersede any criminal charges and would block any entitlements and future employment with any contract involving any government contract. This should apply to all politicians as well.
The screening should be done by a private company. The government can't do anything right. It's been done at a couple of airports and the employees are paid better, much more civil to the passengers and catch more security risks.
How soon can we get rid of the rest of 'em?
Fire all of them.
If they didn't do their job as trained, endangered the public by letting un-screened bagage on an aircraft they all should be fired, not suspended. If they were not trained properly, the trainer(s) should be fired.
Heres a thought - SHUT THE Tough@!$%#America DOWN..... We will save a lot of money, time, & get back some of our lost freedoms..... OOO thats right we can not do that because 1. Union 2. Unemployeement.....
Show me the candidate running for office on that platform, and I'll vote for him.
BINGO The Angry Guy,and OHGuy!
Well, I don't know of a candidate advocating shutting TSA down, but if you don't like them, don't vote for Mr. Romney.
I saw a piece on the news yesterday where Mr. Ryan was campaigning with Speaker of the House John Boehner, and it was Boehner who earlier this year asked President Obama if his 33 member Homeland Security Oversight Committee could have full and sole oversight of the Homeland Security $98 billion a year juggernaut. President Obama said no, but I rather suspect that if Mr. Romney is elected, he'll chose to grant that request--which means that almost all of our nation's national security is going to rest in the hands of those 33 people. I firmly believe that is NOT what our Founding Fathers had in mind for our country!
Remember, it was Ben Franklin who said "Those who would trade a little liberty for a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Does anyone posting here feel any more secure and free?
I had jewelry stolen from my luggage when re entering the US 20 years ago. I have known ever since to bring nothing valuable onto an airplane. What is really hilarious is that they just now installed cameras due to theft complaints?. OMG you can bet if it's happening at Newark then it's happening at every airport in the country. Just take a look at the people working for TSA and you have your answer.
When the screeners were made Federal employees they kept the ones that normally assist with carrying the bags to the conveyor belts - - what do you expect????????
Don't you guys know you can't fire a government worker unless you jump through 40 hoops.
who says govt. doesn't creat jobs!
Oh so the SS TSA is firing and suspending workers.Here's a thought! Why don't the people of this country,get their heads out of their Iphones,stop watching Homey Foo Foo,stop believing the Pile of Steaming Stinking Bull Crap this Corrupt U S Government is jamming down your gullible throats, and Fire HomeCrap/land Security and it's Evil SS Minion the TSA. Start by demanding they get rid of the INSANE PATRIOT ACT!
Get this STACI TRASH,out of airports,train stations,bus stations,and off the highways, and if you do not believe they're on the highways,this trash soon will be on a highway near YOU!
STOP taking this HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE from this Stinking Criminal GARBAGE! WAKE UP!
I fear the government more than any terrorist.
WELCOME to the GULAG!
As high as gas is, I would still prefer to drive my car at least I know where the money is going. I don't care if the trip takes me 3days to arrive at my appointed distination, it is still cheaper and less headaches then traveling by plane. No baggage fee, no seating fees,most of you do not have to worry about being bumped. You also do not have to worry about airport security checking your drinks that you purchase within the airport after going pass the security check.
The airlines now is a big rip off.
Yeah Heeeellooo! These Scumbags are starting to set up check points on the highways,right across America.Tennessee was they're guinea pig last year!
You can't get away from this SCUM!Everybody better start getting a clue! It is going to come to the point of this TRASH being on street corners,in a home town near you!
Think I'm stretching it?They predicted the train stations, the bus stations,sporting events,some shopping malls, and it's going to get worse and worse and worse!
Everybody in this country has been a little to comfortable,for a little too long.Now the SCUM and the PARASITES, have arrived.