Non-LEO Forums >> Non-Sworn Personnel >> TSA Badges
TSA Badges
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Posted 3 months ago Conversation Thread to discuss the topic. I have started this to encourage participation of all PL members. ......live at peace with everyone........ |
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| Posted 3 months ago From what I've seen, TSA badges look too much like ICE & other LEO badges. TSA guards should have kept cloth badge patches instead. |
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| Posted 3 months ago From my experiences with them and observing them while waiting for my wife to arrive in Omaha last month, they didn't even know how to wear what they had. They didn't need to change, just enforce better standards on their people. My overall opinion of the TSA is not good as you can imagine being military.... Certified wiseacre. Proudly serving since 1986.
MCCAIN/PALIN '08 LEADERSHIP! |
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| Posted 3 months ago USAFE7 says ...
I've seen that too. It's kind of surprising that some of the people they hire seem to be ok but some of them seem to be knuckleheads with an attitude problem. |
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| Posted 3 months ago C_Repine says ...
Their old uniforms had those black TSA epallete sleeve markers on them. Well in Omaha, the last time I was at the airport, this one dumpy looking TSA "agent" had one of his on backwards, shirt tail hanging out of his pants that were 2 sizes too small, and oh yeah, I noticed this when he went to get his pizza at the Pizza Hut at the airport. Soon they'll be 3 sizes too small or maybe with his new uniforms they'll fit for a little while at least. Certified wiseacre. Proudly serving since 1986.
MCCAIN/PALIN '08 LEADERSHIP! |
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| Posted 3 months ago The standards for employment as a TSA screener are not very high. This is why you have such a wide range of abilities among it's personnel. I do not like the idea of them having badges that resemble in any way Federal Law Enforcement badges. The general population will not be able to determine the difference and will assume that they are Law Enforcement Officers and the behaviour of many of them will bring disgrace to the badge. I know that Security Guards etc also have badges and that some of them resemble LEO badges but they do say SECURITY on them so people know they are not cops.
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| Posted 3 months ago Robocop33 says ...
Absolutely agree Robocop33. I will not even look in the TSA's direction when I retire for a job. No way, I'd be frustrated everyday. Certified wiseacre. Proudly serving since 1986.
MCCAIN/PALIN '08 LEADERSHIP! |
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| Posted 3 months ago I read the link on the thread similar to this one in Ask-A-Cop. The following contains some excerpt from that reference. USA Today................. " "We coupled the badges with the communications training to make it clear to our officers that they're there to facilitate our passengers," Rossides said. She said the TSA has no interest in giving screeners law-enforcement power. In April, Baltimore-Washington International Airport screeners became the first to get badges and blue shirts, which replace white shirts adorned with a yellow TSA patch. Screeners at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport will get them today. " responses from the article:
There are so many things that people dont understand but yet have something to say. Ignorance is truly bliss in this case. People shooting off there mouth without the facts talking about how they are disrespected or that TSA officers are being impolite. What many forget is..how abusive the travellers are as well. Travellers arriving late trying to rush there way through security or expecting security to push them through ahead of others and so on and so on . I'll add that there are people of all sorts in every profession. Some shine, some don't. The first quote about training is JUST THAT....! Yes, it's a continual process and continual testing. There are many reasons for changing a uniform. Adding a badge was just one part. 4orger wrote: 4h 44m ago I’ve read through all the comments about TSA officers and I have found that some people actually get what TSA officers do. Some the comments are so outrageous that the authors probably don’t believe what they have written. As with any other organization they have a few ego maniacs and rude employees, but overall the employees are polite but are not going to kiss you feet. Let me give you a few facts about the TSA employees.
TSASoldier wrote: 18h 24m ago I have read some of the comment in this blog and will side with the TSA. TSA is not here to pamoer you spoil passengers. It is not their jobs to hold your hand and its not a Bell bot service that you as a passenger can abuse. They main function is to keep that Plane from being blown up. Have you people forgottem about flight 93 that crash in the fields in Penn. Are you passenger that stupid or are you still thinking that you must be pamper. Security is a job that must be handle with professionals. TSA has train these people to be aware of all individual who will bring harm to you or kill you. How mindless and dumb you people have become since 911. These TSA people are only doing their job. They are not here to win a popularity contest... mrusso0512 wrote: 1d 5h ago ......live at peace with everyone........ |
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| Posted 3 months ago pc341352u, I know what their role is and the importance of their job. Do not misunderstand my complaints. Some of them are just fine, professional and competant. But I am not the only one who has experienced too many in their ranks of the unprofessional and incompetant ones. You are correct they keep the bad guys from blowing up aircraft, but when one of their ranks is more concerned with how much shampoo you have or if it is more convenient for them to inspect or if you carry drinking water, when in a crowd of over 200 folks waiting in line to pass thru security check point tell an agent that, hey here is an unclaimed backpack, all he does is say ok who's back pack is this, without going over and looking at it at least a glance. And when their own rules state that military or LEO's on official travel orders, with official ID on their person are allowed to pass un hindered for the most part so that they can screen civilian passengers, they do not always honor those rules, I have an issue with that. There is too much inconsistancy for me to have much respect for them. The military is absolutely NOT perfect, but it is more consistant on many things, especially the basics. By they way, for almost 15 years BEFORE 9/11 I put my butt in harms way, so I don't need to be told about them protecting me. No one will thank them so they need to get over it. Certified wiseacre. Proudly serving since 1986.
MCCAIN/PALIN '08 LEADERSHIP! |
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| Posted 3 months ago I found a perfect example tonight as to why Sworn Police should be the only ones with actual badges. I spent the day today at the county fair in my home town. A man walked through, that works over at our prison in Muhlenberg County, in his blue jeans and a black button up shirt with his corrections badge pinned to his shirt. Police Link Forums Moderator PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY! Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of the goal. I'd rather die trying than live as a coward. |
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| Posted 3 months ago
USAFE7 says ... Robocop33 says ... The standards for employment as a TSA screener are not very high. This is why you have such a wide range of abilities among it's personnel. I do not like the idea of them having badges that resemble in any way Federal Law Enforcement badges. The general population will not be able to determine the difference and will assume that they are Law Enforcement Officers and the behaviour of many of them will bring disgrace to the badge. I know that Security Guards etc also have badges and that some of them resemble LEO badges but they do say SECURITY on them so people know they are not cops. Absolutely agree Robocop33. I will not even look in the TSA's direction when I retire for a job. No way, I'd be frustrated everyday. Well speaking of the TSA, yes it is an old article and very long but still it makes for some fine reading... http://www.aviationplanning.com/asrc11.htm But here is a little portion of it just to get you interested.
"Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile." |
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| Posted 3 months ago We also have a local security guard that comes out to the racetrack in his security guard jacket, why would you go to a place that you don't work at, as a security guard in your security guard jacket. Are there really SG BB's? Or are there really people impressed by that or does it look rediculous to anyone else? Police Link Forums Moderator PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY! Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of the goal. I'd rather die trying than live as a coward. |
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| Posted 3 months ago It's not all that unusual Chris to see these SG's running around in their uniforms etc and acting like they are somehow impressive. Often you see them doing that who are not longer even employed by the Security Company whose uniform they are wearing! I used to travel quite a bit on airlines and I did observe these TSA people closely and more than 9 out of 10 were complete fools. They were either bored and simply going through the motions, flirting with the female TSA's or passengers, or power happy clowns that acted like little Hitlers ordering people around and making big deals over the smallest things. Those were the ones that seemed to take special delight in 'inspecting' and harassing people that were better educated, more important, or there 'betters' which includes those who they discovered were real Police Officers. I had a number of them once they saw my badge in the x-ray machine do as much of a security check as they thought they could get away with. A couple even remarked that they knew I was a cop but they wanted to make sure I wasn't carrying anything I shouldn't! You have no idea how badly I really wanted to slap them up side their head and prayed that I would be able to tell a real cop how they6 liked to hassle is so we could return the favor.I have no doubt that I could sneak many deadly items past them if I wanted to and sometimes wish that the Feds would ask me to do just that as a test. I'm not even trained how to do that and you can be assured that a terrorist probably is! |
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| Posted 3 months ago I know I've seen it before and I'll see it again, that's why I say if they are not "Cops" don't give them a metal badge. Police Link Forums Moderator PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY! Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of the goal. I'd rather die trying than live as a coward. |
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| Posted 3 months ago Robocop33 says ...
TSA is just "window dressing", a "dog and pony show". After working 6 1/2 years as an LEO in an airport, pre 9/11, I'm sure that I too would be able to circumvent their security measures... "Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile." |
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| Posted 3 months ago I'm speaking form th SG standpoint. I where the uniform with the badge, but I know I have no real power or jurisdiction with it. TSA needs to get their act together and better train their personnel. I could even get items passed them. Their procedures are different from airport to airport. |
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| Posted 3 months ago bradleyk86 says ...
No surprise there as every airport is laid out differently in it's own way too. |
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| Posted 3 months ago C_Repine says ...
Brad and I were talking about this last night, he's talking about the enforcement of the rules the TSA has established. For exampe, some shoes off some not, some military and LEO's on official orders are allowed thru, some not. Also, I have been very critical of them on this thread, but I had a great experience with one of them at Omaha. She helped m out tremendously in a claim of stolen property against United Airlines. She said she would check out some things and call me back, she did that and offered to have me come down there and check it out. So I know they are not all bad and that every agency has good and bad people, but it seems like they have more bad then good. The badge idea is not good, they needed to enforce what they had. Also, change the badge style if the gov't really wants them to have one, that DOES NOT look like a federal badge. For the record, as an SEO, I do not wear my badge around off duty. That is stupid. Like I always say stay in your lane.... Certified wiseacre. Proudly serving since 1986.
MCCAIN/PALIN '08 LEADERSHIP! |
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| Posted 3 months ago I have a hard time with some of the hiring practices that TSA uses. I had one of my best friends that worked for TSA. The management was not adecuate, and caused a lot of stress on all the TSA staff. Ultimately, my friend died of the massive heart attack at 36. He was not in the best of shape, but I, and many of his co-workers felt that his heart attack was brought on by conditions of his employment with the TSA, and stress levels caused by the TSA leadership. I had a couple of other friends, after my other friend died, that went to test for TSA. Most of which had previous LE experiance. They were turned down, but there was one person that was on medication for a mental condition, that was brought on with no questions, and is one of the dumbest people I have ever met. This tells me they do not want to pick someone that will push for change in TSA. They want to keep the poor management in place, so they don't look bad from people under them. As for them wearing badges? I don't have a problem with them wearing metal badges. Badges are badges. Badges, fabric or metal are only as good as the authority behind them. Many departments use fabric badges for tactical wear, outer wear or other uniform uses. I wear a metal badge as an member of the Posse for Flathead County. If the Sheriff came and said we now had to wear a fabric badge, it would not change the status of what I do with the Posse. I think some that have a problem with metal badges and fabric badges, put a lot of ego behind the metal badge. I could be wrong, but it comes down to people just needing to know what authority they have, and not to exceed it. Flathead County Sheriff Posse Major |
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| Posted about 1 month ago WE STAND BEHIND LAWS- NOT A VIOLATION OF IT- YET WE STILL FORGET--THE TSA DOES A JOB THAT NO POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO DO PERIOD. ITS BAD ENOUGH THAT OUR BORDERS ARE ALMOST OPEN FOR ANYONE TO CROSS WITH OUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION.. BUT WORKING FOR THE US GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON GOVERNMENT ORDERS AND PROTOCOLS...WE FOLLOW ORDERS WE DO OUR DUTY EVERYDAY..METAL BADGES ARE NOT AN ISSUE --ITS YOURS AND ANYONE WHO CRYS ABOUT RESPECT... HEY DO A JOB FOR TSA -SHOW THAT WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM: ACCEPT THE FACT WE WILL NEVER GO AWAY WE ARE HERE TO STAY..SO PLEASE BE A POLICE OFFICER AND CATCH CRIMINALS WHO BREAK THE LAW ... AS TSA FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DO THERE JOBS PROTECTING THE FLYING PUBLIC FROM BIGGER FISHES TO TAKE DOWN AIRCRAFT.. WHY DONT ALL OF YOU MOVE TO ISREAL OR SOME COUNTRY WHO COULD BUY THEIR WAY IN..TSA STANDS FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS AND ITS AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO STANDS FOR ALL THAT WERE LOST ON 9/11 YOU AS OFFICERS ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED ... ITS SAD... ALL OF YOU SHOULD KNOW IVE LOST FAMILY OUT THEIR IN NEW YORK ... IF THE TSA IS ALL WE GOT THEN SUPPORT THEM ALL ...THEY ATLEAST THEY ALL SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!!!!! AND ARE IN UNIFORM .. YOU POLICE THINK TSA IS BAD -- ASK IF YOUR LOCAL SECURITY OFFICERS WANT A JOB..AT THE AIRPORT FORGET ENGLISH SPEAKING ITS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE JOB... SO YOU GUYS WANT BAD GUYS TO BUY THIER WAY IN AND DO HARM TO OTHERS AND THE DRUGS THAT GO WITH IT ---REMEMBER SOLIDERS WHO DIED CIVILIANS WHO DIED REMEMBER --TSA IS ALL WE GOT TO ENSURE OUR HOME LAND IN THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT IS MORE NECESSARY TO PREVENT FUTURE ATTACKS NOT TO GIVE THE FINGER TO EACH OTHER--ITS JUST DUMB-- BE A MAN OR WOMAN ABOUT IT.. REMEMBER IF YOU DECIDE TO CRY MORE YOUR JUST AN ANTI AMERICAN POLICE OFFICER WHO WANTS THE ENEMY TO WIN..SO SHOW SOME PRIDE IN YOUR JOB .. TSA IS NOT POPULAR BUT ITS WORKING ON IT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.. THE END.. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Wow...that was one big run-on sentence of who knows what |
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| Posted about 1 month ago samtron says ...
Here's 3 requests: 1. Introduction FIRST. 2. Turn OFF the CAPS LOCK. 3. Take PRESCRIBED medications only. Thank you & have a great day! |
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| Posted about 1 month ago Robocop33 says ...
Regardless of what agency you work for. I believe that you technically represent a member of the Criminal justice community whether you are a sworn LEO or not. You wear a badge that signifies that you hold an official capacity of some kind to protect and or observe and report anything that could be a violation of a law or rule set forth by your private establishment or by the state or federal government. So you should project the professionalism and appearance of a person in that capacity. That is one of the reasons why a lot of states here in the US are moving toward or have already implemented a course that will make you license for such positions and will screen all of its applications whether public or private to insure that you don't get the slobs and slackers in the system and you are getting people of responsibility not just someone looking for a paycheck.
As far as a badge is concerned the above quote I have to agree with. a lot of public agencies do have security printed on them but if you see them from a distance you wouldn't know the difference. I think there has to be a certain shape or color or totally different uniform standard to differentiate a non LEO from a LEO. Nation wide. Being a security officer now a days can be very dangerous if you look like a LEO from a distance. That is how a lot of us get shot. The state that I am from changed the badges from crested (like a LEO) to a square badge. A lot of agencies here have also opted for patches that are square instead of actual shields. I also feel that if you use a shield it should be issued with a badge number like a LEO for ID purposes. If you screw up you can be ID ed.
As far as TSA. I believe that all TSA should be LEO's. That is to high of a position to not be. You are dealing with not only US citizens but with International people. You are responsible for literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of lives. If you screw up and let something pass that shouldn't and your plane explodes because you didn't catch something due to poor training or to your lack of knowledge on a particular law. You know what I mean!! |
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| Posted about 1 month ago
Ok. Now that I have quit laughing, it appears to me that the screening process for TSA hiring does not include reading and writing. If I have offended anyone, so be it. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago My personal view of Law Enforcement includes security guards, Public Safety Officers, TSA and anyone else you can throw in with a uniform and a badge. There are, however, different levels of law enforcement. This thread is talking about a particular level of law enforcement called TSA. I have absolutely no problem at all with security officers as a group. I worked in the private security industry for quite a long time even while a sworn police officer. Hell, on the management end, it can be good money. There are tons of security officers out there who are extreme professionals and when I got calls from them, I knew they had all of their stuff in one sock. If I was responding to assist, I knew they were in the process of gather that stuff into one sock but having a little trouble doing it. The issue many have with private security officers or guards is the hiring and screening process. There isn't much of one. Maybe a background check here and there and very minimum training. Any additional training comes out of the individual's pocket and many can't afford it on the check they make. Then you have TSA. I remember many times prior to 9/11 going ot the airport and seeing a bunch of lazy security officers sitting around, shirts untucked and uniforms looking like crap. I could toss my carry on up on the belt and it may or may not get looked at. These people were there becuase the security company with the contract had a hole they needed to fill and you couldn't send those folks out to the higher profile contracts. I've been there and know a tremendous bit on how security scheduling works. 9/11 comes along, TSA is born and hey, let's just keep these guys and put them in our uniform. I do understand that there are probably some professional TSA Agents out there too, but they are few and far between and I have traveled all over both the US and the world and been to many different airports. The consensus is about the same no matter which three lettered tarmac you land on. You guys talk about getting messed with as officers. On my last trip BACK from 9 months in Iraq, I was in my desert uniform with pants bloused into my boots, carrying a rooksack with helmet and all kinds of gear. Guess who got hassled and had to strip down to t-shirt and pants and run just about everything I owned through an x-ray machine. All I wanted to do was get home and see my kids. All of my guys had to stand around and go through the very same ordeal. Where is the professionalism in that? If I have offended anyone, so be it. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago navyfiveo says ...
All right I see where you are coming from with this statement. That is why a lot of states including my own are now heavily screening and licensing new and old officers to weed out the bad lot. All I can say is it is about time. I am talking in terms of Security officers.
As far as your last paragraph. What are you griping about??! Are you whining about being checked or about being profiled and checked? I see it time and time again with LEO's they profile people all the time when it comes to traffic stops or just stopping someone on the side of the road. Granted sometimes it is warranted based on the area and the recent and or history of activity in the area. But I have seen people stopped just because they didn't (fit or look right in the area). That isn't profiling? How would you have felt if someone in a uniform coming back from Iraq took advantage of the situation and was a terrorist and just donned a uniform that he or she stole from one of your buddies and blended in with you and walked thru without being checked? I would call that very professional and diligence on apart of the TSA officer. Leave no stone unturned so to speak. Yes he profiled but I feel with good reason. I understand that you wanted to meet up with your family. So did I when I got back. But you have to understand where they are coming from too. They have a job to do as you or I have with there own orders and objectives. Unfortunately there is not always a good set of terms of engagement layed out by some agencies. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago With few exceptions, and there are, security guards are not and never will be LEOs. They have a function and many of them satisfactorily perform that function. But for the most part the belief that they are somehow quasi-cops, much less a tangible element of the LE community, is a belief reserved by them for the purpose of feeling better about what they do. Have you ever heard of a LEO impersonating a security guard? As for TSA. I am sure there are many screeners who truly believe in what they do. Some if not most probably do the job to the best of their ability. I also believe it is not an easy job. They are enforcing rules and regulations with people who are typically in a hurry and often rude. The screeners are frequently if not typically looked at as a necessary nuisance with little or no authority to back up the rules they are supposed to be enforcing. I could not do it.
But as it is with us (LEOs), it only takes one or two morons for the general public to paint all of us with the same brush of incompetence.
I regularly fly armed and for the most part I am able to do so with little or no pain. But a few years ago I was flying out of SFO and had the misfortune to encounter a TSA screener who other screeners can thank for some of the negative perceptions from the flying public.
I had reached the "Authorized Personnel Only" area at screening. I showed the TSA screener at the podium my creds and waited for an SFPD officer to arrive. While waiting I had reached into my pants pocket and the screener saw my tactical folder's pocket clip. Notwithstanding the error on my part in "exposing" an edged weapon in the sterile screening area, this master crime fighter, in his best command voice, asks, "Do you have a knife?"
Not wanting to believe what I knew was coming next I respectfully answered that I indeed had a knife on my person. To my horror the screener said it. Yes he did. "You know you can't take that knife on the plane."
Trying not to laugh and cry at the same time and almost afraid to say what I knew I had to, I softly replied, "You do know I am carrying a firearm?"
Stay with me here. I know you already know but let me tell it.
As he pointed to the sign with the pictures of prohibited items, "Oh, I know but knives are prohibited."
Knowing that any further attempts to break through and actually connect with a live person within that TSA uniform, I nodded my understanding and accepted defeat by one who obviously was born twice as dumb as any half-wit.
After what seemed like an eternity but was pro |
