I
am writing this account of my experience with the Transportation Security
Administration on May 11, 2012 to bring about a change in the TSA and the
Standard Operating Procedures that it employs.
This is an actual experience.
From reading on the internet and seeing videos on YouTube, this is a
wider problem than I believed possible.
The actions by this government agency are not in keeping with any of the
foundations on which the United States of America was built. To the contrary, using the mantra of
‘safety’, this largely unprofessional police force has the ability to suspend
the Bill of Rights and threaten all United States Citizens with arrest.
For
information purposes, I am a 48 year old Caucasian man who travels via air for
business between 70,000 and 110,000 miles per year. I have been doing this since 2003. While I have observed many issues with TSA
during that time, this is the first situation that I have experienced this
level of humiliation. I am submitting
this complaint to the TSA and Members of Congress with the expectation that to
do so may result in retaliation by the TSA against me.
My
40 minutes from Hell
The
incident began at approximately 11:40 am on Friday, May 11, 2012 at security
checkpoint 10 (the back security gate) of Minneapolis St. Paul international
airport, also known as MSP.
While
I hold a TSA Global Entry ID Card, that makes me a 'trusted traveler' and
eligible to go through reduced security as a ‘known traveler’ at checkpoint 4
at MSP, I elected to go through checkpoint 10 due to the proximity to Hertz
Rental Car Return and my gate to Memphis, C26.
As
I entered the checkpoint, there was a rush of 5-7 airline employees (pilots and
flight attendants). The line was already
slow due to several travelers that did not know travel requirements as it
pertains to going through the imaging device.
Once
these people proceeded through the scanner, I was cleared via the TSA Officer
at the desk (checking my driver’s license and my electronic boarding pass). I had already emptied my pants pockets into
my jacket and removed my watch. In order
to expedite the process, I put my jacket and cell phone into a bin, and placed
my liquids bag with my iPad in a 2nd bin.
I placed the bins on the belt, removed my shoes, placed my shoes between
the bins, removed my belt, put it in one of the bins, and placed my suitcase
and backpack (TSA Approved laptop backpack) on the belt. This is the same procedure I do at least
twice almost every week.
For
clarity, at this point I had on my person: wedding ring, college ring, small
crucifix necklace, Nike Bracelet, shirt, underwear, jeans and socks.
There
was another TSA Officer pushing bags through the belt. I waited until instructed, entered the
imaging scanner, turned the correct way, held my hands up, waited, and stepped
out when instructed.
I
had just entered Hell.
(The
following can be verified through video surveillance footage from the TSA)
I
exited the scanner.
I
held out my arm displaying the Nike bracelet (which was in plain sight) to
allow the Officer to examine it.
I
was immediately held. The TSA Officer
outside of the scanner called "male assist". Then he said "clear the
image". I thought something had
happened behind me. I turned behind me,
and noticed a screen on the backside of the scanner with a cartoon character on
it - that immediately went dark. In many
times through these scanners, I had never seen that screen before. Frankly, I thought nothing more about it.
At
this point an unkempt TSA Officer came up to me and told me that there was an
anomaly on the scanner image in my groin area and they had to pat me down. I have been patted down before. Initially, I was not concerned. I was frustrated by the waste of time, but
not concerned. It was then further
explained to me that because the anomaly was in my groin area, I would be
subjected to a full body pat down in a secluded area. I was stunned. I knew what this meant. I had heard about full body pat downs
including genital holding, and seen the video clips of angry people. I had thought those people in those videos
were all over reacting and embellishing.
I
was wrong.
I
was not allowed to touch my bags or any of my possessions. I explained I was a known traveler and had a
TSA approved identification. It made no
difference. I asked for a supervisor,
and I was told that this unkempt Officer was a supervisor. I asked for another supervisor, that request
was denied. I wanted the Officer’s name,
I was denied again. I wanted to leave
the checkpoint and go to checkpoint 4. I was told that would shut down the
airport and I would be arrested. I asked
to see the image; I was told it was cleared from the system.
I
was, completely powerless against an unnamed and unidentified assailant. This is just a simple fact. To say I was seething mad would be the
understatement of the millennia.
I
was taken to an enclosed room with this unkempt officer and another
officer. The 2nd officer appeared to
have not bathed in several days. At this
point, I will confess I went on quite a cursing tirade. I was not going to take this invasion for no
reason lightly. I was threatened by the
Officer that if I was belligerent, he would call the Airport police. I told him to do it. There are not too many times I want to be in
a room with 2 guys that look like this and agree to be violated. For clarity, if the guys were Brad Pitt and
George Clooney, this treatment would still be an outrage.
He
had to go through a litany of explanations as to what he was going to do. I will put this in very simple terms. He placed his hands on every part of my body,
from the top of my head to the literal bottom of my feet. He cupped my genitals in his hand while he
felt up my thighs. He gave me a verbal
play by play of every action - so at least there was that. I had to sit in a chair so he could feel the
bottom of my feet.
Honest
to god, this is not a joke.
Someday,
I may make fun of this event, but not today. Recounting this story 90 minutes
after the incident makes my skin crawl. Thinking
through it for three days changed nothing.
It was awful. I firmly believe
the way I got through it was clenching my teeth knowing I was going to find a
way to change this over-reaching organization.
The
Officer left the room to have his gloves checked - I assume in the explosive
sniffing device used by TSA, but I don't know.
He then said I could go. It was around
noon.
I
voted no on leaving. I told him to have
the airport police come to the checkpoint and have the TSA head there as
well. They came. I informed the Airport Police I wanted to
file a sexual assault charge against the TSA officer. I had no other option afforded to me. I felt I was violated. With deep respect to any woman who has ever
been the victim of a true sex based crime, I cannot imagine how they endured
the violation and humiliation.
Regardless of what I experienced with this TSA Officer, my humiliation
does not compare to that. But I was
violated, none-the-less.
It's
amazing what happens when you take a position like that. Lots of people seemed interested in talking
to me. I was prepared to forgo my
flight, trip home, and pay the price to get the warrant sworn out and see that
bastard taken out in cuffs.
What
was the Officer’s excuse? It's our SOP -
Standard Operating Procedure. Or in
other words, I was ordered to do that.
Seems that was used in Germany from about 1939 to 1945.
The
end is less dramatic. The best Agent I
have ever encountered from TSA came and talked to me for the next 20
minutes. Or rather he listened. This Agent did show me that there are a few
good TSA people. I don't believe there
are many. I didn't file the charges
against the TSA officer at that time, although I wish now I had gone ahead and
done it. I will wish every day for the
rest of my life that particular TSA Officer meets a painful and fiery end. There
is no question in my mind that he should not be employed with TSA or any
government agency.
I
will tell you I thanked the multiple Airport Police officers for coming (must
have been the best action of the day considering the number), and went to my
gate. It was 12:25.
After
a few days of consideration, I will file a complaint with the TSA. Initially, after a bit of cool down, I wasn't
going to file a complaint for fear of retaliation and being put on a no fly
list or something worse. But this is for my piece of mind. It is for my wife and daughters. This is for my friends. No one should be subjected to these intrusive
pat-downs.
I
do fly for my job, to lose that privilege would affect my employment. It sounds
crazy, but the TSA has too much power and too many secrets. I will appeal to my Congressional delegation.
I will do all of that, and I have
complete faith not one thing will change with the TSA.
Flying
the way that I do, I have had ample time to observe the TSA in multiple cities
and airports. I have joked at their
procedures, but I have been thankful for the screening that allowed me to be a
known traveler, just so I could keep on my shoes. In order to have that privilege, I filed an
application, had a background check done, and gave the TSA my biometrics – just
in the name of wearing shoes.
I
have all kinds of cute comments floating in my head – anticipating friends
reactions - like “maybe if it was Kate Uptown doing the pat down” or "heck
Todd, you should have thanked the guy".
There is obviously some comment I should make about how I thought my
wife was the only one who "had" to do that to me.
All
I know is that I was violated. TSA represents
a facade of security and NOT real security.
There
is not enough oversight of the agency.
There is not enough power for people to object. There is no way to really get results from
issues. There are countless complaints
against the TSA everywhere. There are so
many complaints, I realize this compliant will just be more ‘noise’. There is little action to correct. The TSA had a budget of approximately $8.1
billion in 2011. If we are spending that
much money, I would advise to hire better people. While there may be good people in TSA, the
majority of the screeners seem to be unqualified, unintelligent, uninformed and
unable to make a decision.
The
situation with the TSA is so bad, that regardless of the calls by Members of
Congress for the resignation of John Pistole (head of TSA) or for reform of TSA
procedures, the TSA operates in ‘business as usual’ mode. Bills are introduced in Congress to correct
the issues – but they do not pass. TSA
Officers are enabled to hide from the public, not giving names, badge numbers,
or any other information – while they can have all information on United States
Citizens. This is just wrong.
Somehow,
I am reminded that freedom and liberty are usually not taken away in an
instant. Instead, the loss of freedom
erodes over time. One day you realize
you are no longer free. You have the
illusions of some freedoms - you can vote.
You can move. You can watch your
big TV. You live in a police state. You are "safe".
I
want to be free. I want my friends and
family to be safe. But we have given up
too much. The terrorists are winning,
because we are no longer free! Our
President can be in support of same sex marriage, but when will he support
those whose rights are being violated by the very government he leads?
This
is a call to Members of Congress. Take
Action. You are our only hope. Reel in the TSA. Make these nameless officers accountable to
the people they serve. Save the freedoms
so many had died to protect.
