Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider: Congress eyes TSA misconduct

Posted: 6:57 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2013

By Jamie Dupree

Congressional investigators says misconduct among TSA security employees at airports is up 25 percent in recent years, as a new report details workers are routinely accused of stealing, sleeping, bribery and failure to follow proper security procedures.

The 38 page report can found here.

The rundown of misconduct examples probably aren't much different than what you might find in a large workforce - except this one is tasked with airport security, one reason the findings are being discussed before the House Homeland Security Committee today.

Here is a breakdown of the type of offenses, and the percentage of the cases found by investigators:

Attendance and leave (not showing up for work) - 32%
Screening and security (sleeping, improper procedures) - 20%
Failure to follow instructions (insubordination) - 16%
Inappropriate conduct (includes sexual misconduct) - 10%
Drugs and alcohol (use on duty/positive tests) - 5%
Neglect or duty (careless inspection) - 4%
Ethics (bribery, criminal conduct) - 4%
Falsification (attendance fraud, etc) - 3%
Appearance and Hygiene - 2%
All other misconduct - 4%

One example of misconduct in the report detailed how a screener left an airport post to meet a relative at the airline ticket counter, and then attempted to escort that person through screening with a carry-no bag.

"However," the report says, "a TSA supervisor stopped the TSO in order to screen the bag - which was found to contain numberous prohibited items."

That employee was later suspended for seven days for "intentionally allowing property to bypass required screening."

About Jamie Dupree

Jamie Dupree is the Radio News Director of the Washington Bureau of the Cox Media Group and writes the Washington Insider blog.

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Source: http://www.krmg.com/weblogs/jamie-dupree/2013/jul/31/congress-eyes-tsa-misconduct/

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