But If This Was The Norm, Would It Be News ?

John Deschamp tells the Star-Ledger that over his nine years as a screener at Newark Liberty Airport, he's seen his share of loose change or jewelry left in checkpoint bins by passengers in a hurry. But he says that on December 27, he was making his rounds in Terminal C when he discovered $5,000 in cash wadded up on the floor. He turned it in to United Continental in the hopes its rightful owner could be found, and his decision is making news.

TSA's Federal Security Director, Donald Drummer, praises Deschamp. "This is a premier example of a TSA officer instinctively doing the right thing."

Deschamp says, "Basically I was just doing my job and I would hope that anybody else would do the same." He adds that he allowed his story to be released by the media because of all the negative coverage TSA gets for theft by screeners. "It just gets a little tiring, people constantly saying something. ‘You guys are always in the paper for something bad.’ But hopefully, some of the positive things will start getting out. Like my situation."

TSA's Lisa Farbstein tells the paper Deschamp will be recognized in front of various airport employees, companies and agencies, and honored at a future employee event.

It's not clear whether TSA's decision to portray Deschamp's actions as out-of-the-ordinary to other agency employees will make a difference, or simply reinforce the perception that honest TSA agents are a rarity. Even the fact that the story is making headlines suggests it's as rare as "man bites dog."

FMI: www.tsa.gov