TSA Reportedly To Fire Director Of Philadelphia Screeners [Hired exotic dancer....]

NBC10.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

TSA Reportedly To Fire Director Of Philadelphia Screeners Philadelphia TSA Director On Administrative Leave

POSTED: 11:33 PM EST December 30, 2003

PHILADELPHIA -- NBC 10 News has learned that the director of federal screeners at Philadelphia International Airport will soon be fired.

Law enforcement sources said James Golden, the TSA director at the airport, has mismanaged his duties and has made serious ethical lapses in judgment. He hired and promoted his son-in-law to several high-level management positions. He also reportedly brought in a former exotic dancer and a former dental hygienist and made them supervisors over the security screeners.

All of this began to unravel after screeners and managers -- many of whom have police and military backgrounds -- became upset at what was happening and made their concerns known, prompting an investigation.

Golden was Willie Williams' right-hand man in the 1990s. Prior to his appointment at the Philadelphia airport, Golden served as chief of police in Saginaw, Mich.

Golden is on paid administrative leave, and sources told NBC 10 News that he will be fired within the next 30 days.

Efforts by NBC 10 News to contact Golden were unsuccessful Tuesday night, but the TSA did confirm that Golden is on paid leave and that in the interim, Deputy Director William Ross is in charge.

Golden's son-in-law, the former exotic dancer and the former dental hygienist all still work at the airport. At this point, there are no indications that they will be fired.

[Elkiejg]

Don't tell me.............this guy is a RAT!!!!

[mewzilla]

Jeepers, who does this guy think he is, Mayor Sweet?!

[Elkiejg]

Nah - Bill Clitoon (hint - Exotic dancer involved).

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Worth repeating - Thousands Standing Around (TSA)

Semper Fi,

[The G Man]

James Golden? My, how low the great "Bo Snerdly" of EIB fame has fallen! :>)

[Quilla]

Can't tell, but I'm still searching. Found this though:

"Philadelphia International Airport, PA: James Golden has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, and most recently served as director of the Trenton, NJ, Police Department. With his police department team, he helped create the security and terrorist threat investigative unit following the attacks on New York and the anthrax mailings in the Trenton area. Golden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Philadelphia University."

Source: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/tsa06202.htm

[NittanyLion]

What an embarrassment. Anyone who actually thought federal screeners was a good idea is an imbecile.

[mewzilla]

With his police department team, he helped create the security and terrorist threat investigative unit following the attacks on New York and the anthrax mailings in the Trenton area.

This explains a lot...

[leadpenny]

I can understand hiring the exotic dancer, but the dental hygienist? What was he thinking?



Sorry.

[blau993]

Bachelor of Science degree in management from Philadelphia University.

That degree has got to be straight off a matchbook cover. I lived in Philadelphia for some 40 years and still visit there with some regularity. I have never heard of Philadelphia University.

[Quilla]

Holy cow, check this out:

PHILADELPHIA -- In a story you'll see only on NBC 10, reporter Lu Ann Cahn uncovered a gate at the Philadelphia International Airport that could pose a serious safety threat to thousands of passengers. Cahn returned to the airport Friday to see if anything had been done after our report aired Thursday night.

NBC 10 discovered that Gate 47 is an unguarded entrance to the tarmac at one of the nation's busiest airports.

Despite the security issues Cahn pointed out in her story, it was business as usual Friday morning. But late Friday afternoon a padlock had appeared on the gate.

Still, airport officials insist there is no security risk.

For four days, NBC 10 saw one contractor after another come through the gate and onto the tarmac without being checked. There's no police officer, no security camera and no electronic card reader there. Even vans went through the gates with no problem. These vans could contain anything and nobody is checking them before they go into a sensitive area of the airport.

One subcontractor said that he doesn't have a key, but started coming through Gate 47 with co-workers on March 17.

One airline supervisor said that concerns about Gate 47 have been raised before. He said that his employees go through tight security at the gate, where everyone is searched and scanned. However, the supervisor said, the airport makes an exception for contractors.

"We are very comfortable that that gate is secure and the use is in compliance with all the federal and (Transportation Safety Administration) regulations," said Charles Isdell, aviation director.

NBC 10 called airports in Boston, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco and they all said that they don't allow any situation like Gate 47 -- that every airport employee comes through a guard or an electronic access system.

Nevertheless, at Philadelphia International, the director says contractors like Elliott Lewis who work on security systems need to have easy access and those employees without full background checks completed must stay with an authorized employee. Bottom line, the director said they trust the company involved and the people who have the keys.

"We don't consider it a risk. We consider it an operation that enhances security rather than diminishes it," Isdell said.

Rep. Rob Andrews sent a letter to the Transportation Safety Administration, urging it to improve the security system and any other security holes.

"We are constantly reviewing our risks here at this airport and across the country," said James Golden, the local Transportation Safety Administration director.

Golden would not talk specifically about Gate 47 with NBC 10.

"Lu Ann, I've said all I'm going to say about that. Thanks," Golden said.

Andrews said he is determined to plug this hole, despite what Golden said. "The TSA might not answer your questions but they will answer (questions) in Congress," Andres said.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/2159679/detail.html

[AlbertWang]

Some dental hygienists are hot.

That's what he was thinking.

[mewzilla]

Holy croke.

[new cruelty]

I lived in Philadelphia for some 40 years and still visit there with some regularity. I have never heard of Philadelphia University.

Welcome to Philadelphia University

[Sub-Driver]

i won't go there, this is a family forum!

[Heatseeker]

I can understand hiring the exotic dancer, but the dental hygienist? What was he thinking?

Maybe he thought people would want to have their teeth cleaned and take in a floor show at the same time? :)

[randita]

Never heard of Philadelphia U, either, but it does exist.

http://www.philau.edu/

[RiflemanSharpe]

TSA = Thousands Standing Around

[Lurking in Kansas]

Ditto.

I know exactly what he was thinking.

;-P