Government

Eight TSA Workers Suspended After Accusations of Stealing & Sleeping on the Job

TSA Suspends Workers for Stealing and Sleeping on JobAdd this to the list of grievances many have against the Transportation Security Administration. Eight TSA workers at Newark Airport in New Jersey have been suspended after an investigation revealed workers were doing everything “from stealing from passengers to sleeping on the job to even failing to screen luggage for potential bombs,” the New York Post reports.

From the Post:

The investigation is targeting Transportation Security Administration screeners and supervisors assigned to the reportedly problem-plagued baggage area of Terminal B, which handles Delta and many foreign airlines, sources said.

Sources say hidden surveillance cameras caught several TSA screeners sleeping while on duty.

“They did find people sleeping on the job on the midnight crew. A plane goes out at 2 a.m., and there’s no activity for a while, so they’ll sit down and go to sleep,” one law-enforcement official said.

Other workers are accused of failing to screen luggage and of stealing from passengers’ bags.

The Star-Ledger reports the number is seven, not eight, but that at least one suspension is likely to lead to a firing:

A baggage screener at Newark Liberty International Airport who failed to do his job last month is likely to be dismissed, while six others have been relieved of their duties under a crackdown intended to improve security, TSA and union representative said Sunday.

The veteran Transportation Security Administration employee failed to adequately check two bags on Dec. 22 after they had raised red flags, causing two planeloads of luggage to be unloaded and rescreened, TSA said. The failure was spotted immediately, the TSA said at the time, and the bags never made it onto an aircraft.

Last month’s incident followed a string of security lapses at Newark Liberty last year that led to the replacement of the airport’s federal security director. And an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general’s office is ongoing.

TSA responded by saying that it “takes immediate action when our standards aren’t met.’’

“TSA routinely tests security operations to ensure that protocols are being followed and investigates any indication of misconduct,” the statement read. “TSA takes immediate action when our high standards aren’t met. TSA also utilizes a number of measures to ensure protocols are being followed, including closed circuit video surveillance, random inspections and covert tests, as well as peer and management oversight.”

In September, the TSA fired 28 workers at a Honolulu airport for failing to properly screen luggage.

Comments (89)

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  • packsack54
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:01am

    Do you people get it yet? They are doing this not for your protection like they say they are doing? No the want to control the airlines and your traveling in the future. My best guess is that the airlines will be bankrupt in the next 5 years or less or bought out or taken over like GM,Chrysler and other failing corporation by the to big to fail. Amtrack a money maker, for the taxpayors also Obama said GM is doing so well?

    Report Post »  
    • charlierein
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 1:17pm

      I was a screener from 8-2002 to 4-2004. A job that is run buy Govt programs that hires people who cannot search suspicious people but must randomly search the next person, gets the type of employees, who look to have an easy boring job, and then take advantage of it. And it is rife with government patronage where the have’s and who knows move up and out and the real screeners are told to quit complaining and get back to work. and nobody gets fired Government Union JOBS

      Report Post »  
    • Living In NYC
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 3:30pm

      Geez…sounds like our nation’s airports have turned into dorms for sleeping public servants…maybe we should give the free internet acess so than can watch movies and surf adult websites.

      Way to go TSA, FTA and other free-loading public servants…where do I sign up so I can sleep on my government job and due my regular job…a new double dipping program for the masses!

      Report Post » Living In NYC  
  • Wilma
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:58am

    I’ve witnessed TSA agents ignoring the screen as bags are moving through the x-ray machine at LaGuardia. This was happening less than 20 feet from the supervisor’s desk. When I pointed it out to the TSA supervisor I was ignored as well.

    Report Post » Wilma  
  • phillipwgirard
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:52am

    Tsa=SS NAZI STYLE

    Report Post » phillipwgirard  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:56am

      Oh, they found ‘sleeping’ but only on the midnight crew.

      That’s interesting, because that’s the same crew that needed to be awake during those hours.

      This whole thing is a really bad joke. The TSA and DHS have done nothing, and I mean that in the full context of the word, nothing to prevent terrorism in this country.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • Banter
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:06am

      TSA is government sanctioned pedophilia, abuse of the elderly, and general public harassment. It is about control, not security. When you realize that the control is administered by people who generally would never be able to get a normal private-sector job, stories like this won’t be a surprise.

      TSA = less free

      Report Post » Banter  
  • NEAF
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:40am

    Wait until they became unionize. With over 11% unemployment these morons no are taking advantage of this opportunity.

    Report Post » NEAF  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:31am

    Want to improve airport security? Abolish the tsa.

    Want to improve airport security? Have the airline provide their own. Part of the price to fly.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • shackero
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:48am

      I agree!!!!
      TSA is a sham with one commitment: to become unionized!!!!!!

      Report Post » shackero  
    • GardenoftheGods
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 3:16pm

      Remember Obama’s speech about having a civillian army that is as well equiped, as well paid, etc. as the US Military? He’s got it; it’s called the TSA. We can thank Bush & Obama for the destruction of our liberties & freedoms. It’s a sad time for America…

      Report Post » GardenoftheGods  
    • Bill in Texas
      Posted on January 31, 2012 at 11:52am

      Let the Airlines hire Black Water to run it. I bet there would be no more problems. lol

      Report Post »  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:28am

    Yah, I KNOW they stole the $400. missing out of my husbands wallet last trip. I just can’t PROVE it. They made him have a “pat down” away from his stuff saying the “picture” didn’t come out clear, he must have moved? When we got to Florida.. money gone!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:45am

      I’ve noticed, when I used to fly, they would go through my purse and turn their back to me so I couldn’t see what they were doing. I don’t let ANYONE go through my purse, so that with the pat-downs and scanning machines, etc. I’ve decided., if I can’t drive, swim or row a boat, I’m not going, outside an emergency. Don’t trust these people any farther than I can throw them.

      Then you see photo‘s of airline employees going through people’s luggage (unlocked) and things removed. And I hear some say they’d rather be safe, ‘scuse me! Safe from what? A bunch of thieves? Profile is the only safe way to protect us from danger, not random searches.

      Report Post »  
  • fuzzy20841
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:13am

    Elimination of TSA and all other government unions would go a long way toward reducing our deficit. How did this union get involved anyway?

    Report Post »  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:55am

    Typical government employees! Not to worry because they have a union process that will deal harshly with them or put them in a “rubber room” where nothing changes and they still get full pay …but they are being punished. The Obama system in action.

    Report Post »  
  • BeyondFedup
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:49am

    Let’s get rid of Homeland Security, it is not working. Only please don’t send Janet Napolitano back to us in Arizona.

    Report Post » BeyondFedup  
    • USPATRIOT101
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:24am

      If our government were truly seriouse about our nations security they would seal our southern border.

      Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
    • Agnes
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:17pm

      She should be encouraged to go some far away place permanently!

      Report Post »  
  • ZAP
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:47am

    Sounds like the rest of our government,GIV”EM A RAISE !!!!

    Report Post » ZAP  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:47am

    Thank you Bush, for creating the Dept. Of Brown Shirts…. I really dont think McCain woulda been that much better than Obama…. i wish Jan Brewer was running….

    Report Post »  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:52am

      The only difference between McCain & Obama is McCain is paler.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:33am

      I thought it was obama had a better tan……….
      .
      .
      .
      (tongue in cheek)

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Buck Shane
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:45am

    Get a government job, and retire in place.

    Report Post » Buck Shane  
  • momrules
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:44am

    What “standards” does the TSA actually have?

    Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:46am

      A Nazi is what a Nazi does!

      ABOLISH THE TSA!

      ONLY RON PAUL WILL ABOLISH THE TSA!!

      ONLY RON PAUL WILL ABOLISH THE TSA!

      ONLY RON PAUL!

      ONLY RON PAUL!

      RON PAUL!

      THE GOSPEL OF LIBERTY!

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:51am

      Child molester is a requirement for the job,that and a brown shirt mentality.

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Regdunlop
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:21am

      Yes, it’s all true. The Ron is our savior. I hear that he can cure the blind, build you a house from scratch and knows where they buried Hoffa. And that’s in his spare time, when he’s not forging world peace, paying off the national debt, or finishing his faster than light drive for the space mission he will lead. The Ron is the greatest, he will cure all of the worlds problems within his first week in office. Go Ron!!

      Report Post »  
    • USPATRIOT101
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:26am

      TSA is just another governmental money pit. I don’t feel any safer with these idiots on duty.

      Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
    • jnobfan
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:41am

      I do not agree with some of Ron Pauls ideas but compared to the do absolutely nothing ideas of the other 3 he has my vote. He is the only candidate talking about cutting spending. The other 3 just talk about cutting the INCREASES in spending.
      Bring home the troops – I’m in
      States rights for drugs or school prayer or anything else – I’m in
      Audit the Fed – I’m in.
      Drill here Drill now – I’m in.

      I know he’s not going to win here in FLA tomorrow and the GOP knows that I will hold my nose and vote for Romney in November but tomorrow I cast my vote against the Governmnet / Media complex and vote for RP.
      BTW – who are you going to blame when Romney is President? Nancy and Harry and Nancy and Harry and Nancy and Harry. While they make millions inside trading and fly their friends on vacation with their own (ours) private 757 paid for by us.
      At least cast a protest vote for change.

      Report Post »  
  • Foxxybrown
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:43am

    Why does this surprise anybody!!!
    This is part of any union contract, it’s listed as part of their ongoing benefits;) Why else would they want to keep their collective barging rights??? Scott Walker for president….

    Report Post »  
  • drago
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:43am

    No surprise here, and a firing squad it too good a punishment for them……

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:40am

    Stealing and sleeping on the job is not a reason to fire a government employee,,, in fact there is no reason to EVER FIRE a lazy ass worthless government employee …… They could not show up…. And still not be fired….. These pigs would’nt last one week in the private sector…..

    Report Post »  
    • jaylew
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 6:30pm

      Detroit…i agree with you on many many things…but I am a federal employee and have been for nearly 30 years….I know there are many worthless federal employees..but there are also many many good ones. I understand the public angst against federal employees and especially those covered by public sector unions. I have also mentioned that I am a conservative person who is also a federal union leader. I do believe that federal government in its current form is dangerously over reaching and that it’s size needs to be reduced. Having said that and I think and hope you might agree that perhaps you were just referring to these TSA thieves as “pigs”. Because not only do I appreciate serving the hard working taxpaying public…but in everything i do i do with the stewardship of your tax money and mine in mind. I would hope that you not feel that every federal employee is a pig…because that is just not the case. Are there bad federal employees? Yes. Do many federal employees perform important work? I absolutely think so. Do all federal employees need to thank the American Taxpayers for the opportunity to serve those taxpayers as customers? Yes. But many things done by the federal government are important….inspection of meats and foods for example. Testing and approval of medicines and drugs for another. So I hear you brother….and we agree on many things…but I hope you don’t think that I am a pig….I will stand with you shoulder to shoulder to protect our rights.

      Report Post » jaylew  
  • itsmyfirstday
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:37am

    Profiling works….TSA doesn’t….

    Report Post » itsmyfirstday  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:49am

      As a black man in an urban dystopia… I must disagree.

      PROFILING DOES NOT WORK!

      PROFILING IS RACIST!

      IF THEY CAN’T DO THEIR JOB OF PROVIDING YOU WITH A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY WITHOUT VIOLATING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OR THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THEN THEY NEED TO GO FLIP BURGERS AT THEIR LOCAL FAST FOOD JOINT!

      ABOLISH THE TSA!

      9-11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB!

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:30am

      Get a clue…

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:44am

      V-MAN MACE
      I am white, 20 yrs a ago i was driving a friend to her babysitting job(first day). The police pulled me over. Reason? My vehicle DID NOT fit the PROFILE for the neighborhood.

      I guess profiling is OK so long as it is not used against muslims & people of colour……..

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:07am

      Stoic one

      What was extraordinary about your vehicle? Behavioral profiling is one thing, these people try to use computers and automatic programs to determine your intent and that Minority Report crap is NOT going to work. Behavioral profiling is the way it’s supposed to be done if done at all.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • USPATRIOT101
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 11:46am

      Profiling does work. Look at EL AL, they absolutley profile and are getting it right.

      Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 12:54pm

      Israel is a police state.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 12:56pm

      I’ll keep my rights and face the danger, thank you very much.

      BOO! I’m not scared of the big bad muslim boogeyman or the abominable urban minority. I’m more worried about being stung to death by a swarm of hornets.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 1:03pm

      V-MAN MACE
      I submit to you that you are upset with the symptom (profiling), rather than the problem ( cultural decay of the black family). Just like our government, you want to fix the symptom rather than the problem. Why one must ask is this being done? It is expediency. This has lead us down the road of political correctness.

      A carpenter in the past put it something like this: Do not get upset about the mote in my eye when you have a beam in your own.
      Instead of listening to al sharpton & jesse jackson; I suggest you listen to Bill Cosby, Allen West, and Herman Cain.
      Look at why you are profiled, your behavior, and try changing that, rather than the world.

      I was driving a beater car in a high income neighborhood looking for an address. stopping, starting, slowing… pulled over by a pair of police (one black, one white) they asked my business: stated my car did not belong in that neighborhood and then escorted me to the correct address; which I had driven by a couple of times.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Stoic one

      This government has a REDWOOD TREE in its eye.

      Yes, that is a good quote if you’re going to use it right. Don’t you dare try to blame the decay of society for the Police State we live under when the Police State is causing the decay of society by perpetrating false flag attacks on the populace and trafficking in drugs, guns, and cash internationally, while simultaneously preying on the populace who use and sell their products, then locking them up in prisons owned by the banks laundering the cash for the criminals, who then force them to work for slave wages in prison labor camps undercutting other legitimate business who can’t compete with modern day slave labor.

      “Driving/ Walking/ Riding a Bike/ Standing Idly While Black“ is the ”behavior” that is usually profiled by Nazis. Nothing you can do about that except stop breathing.

      Self-fulfilling prophetic heretic. You go ahead and bow down like a good little sheep. You don’t “belong” in their neighborhood. You stupid little brainwashed sheep. You shut up and fold right up in a fetal position and let them violate your rights for not breaking any law.

      Stupid. YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!

      Damn enablers. If we’re gonna profile, let’s profile the criminals caught with CIA-owned planes crashing with 4 tons of cocaine on it, or profile the soldiers guarding Taliban poppy fields, or working hand in hand with the Sinaloa Cartel, or working in the banks laundering cash for them.

      G’day.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • bikerr
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 2:49pm

      @V-MAN MACE–You say loudly”profiling doesn’t work”.and “profiling is racist”
      You are using “profiling” to attain that thought.-I’m not sorry for this slap, but you deserved it!

      Report Post »  
    • southernloyalty
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 4:02pm

      Actually profiling does work, it works too good thats why they hate it. The problem is the government is in the business of making everybody pay for actions of a few. First lets look at the facts, statistically what kind of people have hijacked planes in the past. Males, ages 18-45, middle eastern/North African, and muslim. How many white guys have highjacked planes, how many oriental people have hijacked planes, how many Australian Aborigines have hijacked planes, ect. How many 12 year olds have hijacked planes, how many 85 year old grandmas have hijacked planes. See my point. We all sacrifice to make a few feel happy and warm inside. The fact is the sensitive people who’s feelings get hurt, or inside agenda gets demolished when profiling is implimented need to be more sensitive to the majority. Its time to quit offending the majority in order to bend over and cater to the minority. And if the small minority is too sensitive and thin skinned to take it then they should emigrate out of the US to another country such as France that will suicidally cater to them. As long as we do not profile, we are making and easy job more difficult, ******* off a large majority which can be dangerous in the long run for the catered to minority, and wasting a lot of time and money making people potential hijackers who have never in history had a record of hijacking aircraft.

      Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 8:11pm

      so V-mace you abdicate the responsibility of a man to his family; to the State? Where are all of the FATHERS in the black community? Being a man is more than rising to the occasion; it is standing up to responsibility of raising a family. That is not the job of the government, yet they will do it – for a price. Much of the decay of our society has to do with our values..and their demise. Men (white, yellow, brown, & black) do not know HOW to behave in society without the direction of their fathers and elders.Without them, then the sate steps in with pre- judgement and then to profiling. I prejudge everyday of my life; so do you. When the state does so then things invariably get ugly.

      The international things you alluded to are simply solved; bring our troops home; keep our tax dollars here at home.
      Monetary? audit the fed.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:35am

    I started to make a comment and realized it was totaly not needed- the story speaks for itself and everyone on the Blaze that is suprised-raise your hand!

    Report Post »  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:47am

      The only surprise is that not more were caught. Also no surprise that they were suspended, not fired and also not arrested.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:49am

      Same here. That‘s why you don’t see any comment from me, except this one, agreeing with you.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • SoupSandwich
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:33am

    So hard to imagine that lovely oasis in Newark having any issues at all. It is known world wide as America’s poop shoot- any wonder here at all about the stellar work ethic?

    Report Post »  
    • let us prey
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:00am

      It seems like there are too many poop chutes these days. Have you forgotten about Mexifornia, NY, Mass, Minn, Mich, Ariz, Maine, Rhode, Wis. There seems to be too many to list or to wall them off, what is to be done.

      Report Post » let us prey  
    • SoupSandwich
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 10:12am

      Lase and Fire for effect? Call in the Panthers? Let the Bloods and Crips know that OWSers are dissing their colors? MS13 could use some practice hacking and chopping and Code Pink loves to coddle and coo the misunderstood… Happy endings all around. Huge tent they have going, lets just help them along in any and every way.

      Report Post »  
  • StrongViolentType
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:31am

    Lazy thieves being fired. They need a a union NOW!

    Sarcasm

    Report Post »  
  • Kara_ite
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:27am

    This is how 9/11 happened. They allowed people on a plane with box cutters. They allowed people from another country to train in airplanes. These people only wanted to know how to take off, not land.

    Report Post » Kara_ite  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:26am

    Stealing and sleeping on the job and it’ll be impossible to fire the union members,you’re just a bunch of criminals and child molesters.The whole unconstitutional TSA needs to be abolished ASAP and let the airlines handle security,government has no business running security for airlines.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • Brents Torts
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:24am

    Oh joy. I get to deal with these thugs tomorrow.

    Report Post » Brents Torts  
  • THXll38
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:23am

    The difference between the public and private sector — if you did this in the private sector, you would have been fired on the spot, and the possibility of criminal charges brought forth. Only in the public sector can people get away with this type of crap.

    Report Post » THXll38  
    • Deb C
      Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:44am

      Just think of all the money saved in not having to treat Diabetes

      Report Post » Deb C  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on January 30, 2012 at 9:23am

    TSA needs to be shut down.

    Report Post »  
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