The wrong look for screeners
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Transportation Security Administration wants to increase the professionalism of its 43,000 screeners who scrutinize airline passengers and luggage for explosives, weapons and other contraband.
The more professionalism the better, given the chronically high rate at which screeners around the country fail to catch contraband in undercover tests.
Increasing training -- particularly shifting the job focus be yond a simple checklist mentality to looking for suspicious behavior beyond the limited zone around the X-ray machine -- is a good idea.
But the TSA is off course with the sartorial part of its improvement plan. It wants to replace the screeners' dark pants and white shirts with uniforms that are more policelike, complete with gold badges.
The TSA says the badges and uniforms will better reflect the critical nature of the screeners' jobs and the ever-higher standards. But the screeners' present look isn't unprofessional. Their shirts are businesslike and bear a prominent TSA logo, along with large identification cards that clearly indicate their role.
Some federal and local law officers fear the new accouterments could confuse passengers into thinking screeners are real police. Which they aren't. In a real emergency -- say you saw an assault in progress -- contacting a screener could mean a delay while the screener found a cop.
Gate security was transferred from the airlines after 9/11 to the federal government because the system was far too porous. There are still too many holes, so the government's aim has to be to produce the most meticulous and professional screening force possible. But screeners aren't cops and don't need to look like police.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Transportation Security Administration wants to increase the professionalism of its 43,000 screeners who scrutinize airline passengers and luggage for explosives, weapons and other contraband.
The more professionalism the better, given the chronically high rate at which screeners around the country fail to catch contraband in undercover tests.
Increasing training -- particularly shifting the job focus be yond a simple checklist mentality to looking for suspicious behavior beyond the limited zone around the X-ray machine -- is a good idea.
But the TSA is off course with the sartorial part of its improvement plan. It wants to replace the screeners' dark pants and white shirts with uniforms that are more policelike, complete with gold badges.
The TSA says the badges and uniforms will better reflect the critical nature of the screeners' jobs and the ever-higher standards. But the screeners' present look isn't unprofessional. Their shirts are businesslike and bear a prominent TSA logo, along with large identification cards that clearly indicate their role.
Some federal and local law officers fear the new accouterments could confuse passengers into thinking screeners are real police. Which they aren't. In a real emergency -- say you saw an assault in progress -- contacting a screener could mean a delay while the screener found a cop.
Gate security was transferred from the airlines after 9/11 to the federal government because the system was far too porous. There are still too many holes, so the government's aim has to be to produce the most meticulous and professional screening force possible. But screeners aren't cops and don't need to look like police.
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