Chicago Police: TSA Won't Show Up In Court

This is a battle that's been brewing for more than a year (ANN: Chicago Police Fill In For TSA, Indefinitely -- 08 May 2002). But it came to a head last month when Chicago Police complained bitterly that the TSA at O'Hare wasn't doing its job.

But now, the TSA at ORD says Chicago police are taking a cheap, personal shot at the federal agency. TSA officials say "erroneous information leaked" about alleged screener no-shows was intended to soil the reputation of the federal security workforce at O'Hare. "We think there is a personal agenda by one or two misguided individuals in the Police Department who may have other issues with us," said security agency spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan. "We went through every single court case with [the Police Department] and couldn't find one in which a TSA screener caused the case to be dismissed."

Chicago Police beg to differ. Commander Steve Peterson, chief of the PD's O'Hare unit, said of 48 arrests on weapons charges at O'Hare this year, judges tossed out 17 cases because the witnesses -- screeners who confiscated the banned items -- did not show up to testify.

Rhatigan wouldn't guess on a motive for the tiff. But sources pointed out to the Chicago Tribune that the Police Department is fighting a security agency move that on June 1 stopped reimbursements to Chicago for off-duty police officers providing extra security at O'Hare and Midway Airports.

The additional patrols, which cost the police department more than $20,000 a day, were mandated after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Peterson issued a memo Sept. 9, warning that police would stop arresting people caught carrying knives at airport checkpoints because screeners were missing court dates and judges were dismissing charges.

Under the law and TSA guidelines, screeners have to sign complaints for the unlawful use of a weapon or attempting to board an aircraft while armed, and to appear in court as witnesses to the crimes.

Last year, TSA officials ordered the Police Department to turn over its records involving all cases this year that were dismissed in Cook County Circuit Court. "Cmdr. Peterson and Mike Zunk, our interim security director, went through the records, and the police had no hard data to back up their claims," Rhatigan said.

FMI: www.tsa.gov