It's a Good Start - Four Newark TSA Agents Fired, Dozens Suspended

TSA Watch ^ | 04/1/2013 | Lady Liberty

[TSA-Watch]

It looks like the powers that be at the TSA might have finally gotten something right.

In 2011, the TSA began what would be close to a year long investigation into lax luggage screening procedures at New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport. Hidden cameras at the airport showed dozens of TSA agents doing a half-assed job screening checked baggage and failing to physically search flagged luggage altogether.

This same investigation, which originally began as a probe to investigate numerous allegations of items being stolen from checked baggage inside one of the screening room, also found incidents of TSA agents sleeping on the job.

Last Friday, the last of the TSA agent case reviews was completed. In all, forty-four TSA agents were facing disciplinary actions as a result of the investigation. The disciplinary breakdown is as follows:

• Four TSA agents were fired
• One TSA agent resigned
• Thirty-two TSA agents were suspended
• Six TSA agents were cleared of any wrongdoing
• One TSA agent's case is still outstanding

I have a quick parting joke for you:

Question: What do you call 36 TSA agents fired or suspended?

Answer: A good start.

I'll be here all week.

[TSA-Watch]

I was actually pleasantly surprised that the TSA was being proactive for once. I expected the typical "We take all allegations seriously and we are vigorously looking into it" rhetoric while nothing actually gets accomplished.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

They were probably too slow rifling through passenger luggage and weren’t meeting their quota of stolen goods.

[a fool in paradise]

Hidden cameras at the airport showed dozens of TSA agents doing a half-assed job screening checked baggage and failing to physically search flagged luggage altogether.

This same investigation, which originally began as a probe to investigate numerous allegations of items being stolen from checked baggage inside one of the screening room, also found incidents of TSA agents sleeping on the job.

[Revolting cat!]

How does one get one of those comfy jobs?

[PA Engineer]

Sorry, nothing short of Nuremberg type trials will be enough.

[MichaelCorleone]

Hard to get excited when they let the sexual assults, groping, and ‘touching the junk’ of honest, lawful, tax-paying American citizens go unpunished.

The gestapo still runs wild.

These girls and guys are Federal employees thanks to GWB. They’ll get a transfer to Kennedy or LaGuardia in three months.

[Paleo Conservative]

Tell me when they’re drawn and quartered. I might be impressed then.

[wiggen]

FYI-Newark is New Jersey.

[JoeProBono]

[CGASMIA68]

Show up

[UCANSEE2]

I was actually pleasantly surprised that the TSA was being proactive for once. I expected the typical "We take all allegations seriously and we are vigorously looking into it" rhetoric while nothing actually gets accomplished.

I think it was pressure from the airlines whose customers were complaining that brought this out into the open. Once they started videotaping, it was hard to deny or ignore. The TSA was only being 'proactive' after the fact, and under pressure.

[barefoot_hiker]

I would prefer 36 fired. 32 suspended? So all of them probably back on the job after the hubbub dies down.

[golf lover]

Better yet. Tranferred to Obamacare jobs!

[TSA-Watch]

I know - it is actually fixed on the website. I had written an article about goings-on at JFK in NY just prior and I had NY on the brain...

Thanks for the eyes though!

[wiggen]

Living in NYC and really not liking Newark airport i couldn’t help but see it.