AFGE President: "Today’s Report Justifies Our Call For Armed Law Enforcement Officers At Security Checkpoints”

TSA this week issued a report outlining its actions and the procedure changes adopted following the fatal wounding of a TSA officer at Los Angeles International Airport November 1 of last year.

In the report TSA said that it has implemented 14 recommendations intended to protect the TSOs working at airport checkpoints around the country. TSA says in the report that Employee feedback was solicited through the Idea Factory, which is a web-based tool designed to enable innovation and collaboration within the agency. It serves as a means of generating employee ideas in several areas including enhancing organizational effectiveness. To date, the Idea Factory has received more than 200 suggestions. Input was obtained from all levels of the organization including FSDs, TSOs, staff from Training and Coordination Centers, security inspectors and headquarters employees. The workforce expressed appreciation for being invited to participate in this collective effort and offered several ideas which have been endorsed by senior management, and others that are not being considered at this time. The feedback process is ongoing.

Among the recommendations is a call for increased "Active Shooter" training for TSOs working at checkpoints utilizing a concept called "Run, Hide, Fight". The document says the training should be a top priority. It also calls for a standardization of law enforcement presence at checkpoints and ticket counters during peak travel times, and enhanced VIPR (Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response) presence at airports.

But American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. says the report does not go far enough to protect TSA officers. Cox issued a statement saying the incident points to a need to arm TSA officers working at airport checkpoints.

“Ever since Transportation Security Officer Gerardo Hernandez was killed while on duty at LAX last November, AFGE has advocated that TSA create an armed, uniformed law enforcement unit within the agency to provide the best possible security for our Transportation Security Officers at the airport checkpoints," Cox said in the statement. "Today's report justifies our call for armed law enforcement officers at security checkpoints.

“AFGE appreciates the first steps TSA has taken, and the support they have shown to the officers and families affected by the LAX incident, but today's report does not go far enough to address the immediate threat posed by individuals who target our officers. The current patchwork of local law enforcement agencies across the country inevitably leaves gaps in security, as we saw at LAX. Only an armed law enforcement unit within TSA can ensure the constant and consistent presence of sufficient law enforcement resources needed in the immediate area of the checkpoints and other key locations in order to prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred at LAX. Now that this report recognizes the need for increased visibility of uniformed officers in and around the checkpoints, and improved response times for law enforcement, AFGE looks forward to working with TSA in achieving this goal at airports nationwide.”

The Global Business Travel Association was supportive of the TSA's recommendations.

"These recommendations strike the right balance of prudence and deterrence," GBTA Executive Director and COO Michael W. McCormick said in a statement. "Protecting our travelers is a difficult, dangerous and thankless job. These recommendations, while maybe not visible to the traveling public, will improve the safety of the travelers, airport personnel and TSA officers.

"GBTA was pleased to be a part of the multiple stakeholder outreach on this initiative and believes it serves as a model for future community engagement."

FMI; TSA Report