Los Angeles, Chicago lead country in dismissed federal screeners

abc chicago ^ | 1-21-04 | AP

[doug from upland]

January 21, 2004 — Airports in Los Angeles and Chicago led the country in federal screeners who were hired after incomplete background checks, then fired when investigations uncovered problems, according to federal records.

At least 139 screeners at Los Angeles International Airport and 77 screeners at O'Hare International Airport were fired for "suitability" problems through June 2003, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday. The paper used Transportation Security Administration records requested under the Freedom of Information Act. "When we hire people, regrettably they're not always perfect," TSA spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan said.

Nationally, about 1,200 of 55,000-plus screeners were fired for lying on applications, criminal histories, or other concerns, according to the records.

Initially, federal screeners were allowed to interact with the public while their background checks were being processed, Rhatigan said. The TSA has since revamped hiring procedures so background checks are completed before screeners begin training, she said. "At no time were passengers at risk," Rhatigan said.

After LAX and O'Hare, the airports with the most terminations included New York's Kennedy Airport with 55, Atlanta's airport with 43 and Newark's airport with 42.

Chicago's Midway Airport had 15 screeners fired after background checks revealed problems, according to the TSA data.

[doug from upland]

The Lakers might be stinking up the place, but L.A. can still be proclaiming "We're No. 1...we're No. 1"

[doug from upland]

SSAF EXPOSED SECURITY STORY FROM MID 2003

[hole_n_one]

The TSA has since revamped hiring procedures so background checks are completed before screeners begin training...

They've got some real geniuses working there.

[South40]

A shot at the Lakers...?

Hey...they can't be #1 forever.

But, if there's ever a doubt as to the greatness of the team just look at the 14 World Championship banners they've got hanging in the rafters.

Or, mash here.

[NickinAM]

Loy, that is Admiral Loy who is in charge of the TSA is dragging his feet on this one. Not only do bullets get through airport security, those that do get caught have their cases dismissed because the screener concerned fails to turn up to court for the trial.

What TSA is going on?

[doug from upland]

"At no time were passengers at risk," Rhatigan said.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Unfreakingbelievable. If one of those screeners was at the x-ray machine for carry-on baggage, he could have let anything through.

[Benjo]

I wonder what is meant by screeners dismissed for "suitability" problems? Lying about education, previous arrests/convictions on their application? Or do they mean people with serious personality problems who use all this new power they suddenly have to stike back at travlers for all the injustices they think they've suffered all their lives.

[doug from upland]

I know we have good people working very hard to protect us. Unfortunately, there are more than little cracks in our security. There are canyons.

[doug from upland]

I don't think they are going to tell us. What if just one of those people was an al Qaeda sympathizer?