Okay, this story is not funny, but I did find this part a little amusing;
the GAO cited examples of a night guard being found asleep after taking the pain killer prescription drug Percocet, and a guard failing to recognize or properly x-ray a box containing handguns at the loading dock of a facility. One guard supposed to have been at his post was caught using government computers to manage a private for-profit adult website.
I guess the site was called “T&A for the TSA” Something else that was not included in the transcript was the security officer who accidently fired his handgun practicing his ‘Fast Draw’ in front of a restroom mirror. “You talking to me?”
Maybe Dick Cheney is partially right, maybe we are less safe under Obama, but not because of him, because of inept Federal employees.
I’d trust my belongings to a teenage pothead before I’d hand them over to the TSA.
The glorified rental cops at government buildings aren’t much better.
When I was watching the news clip last night on TV I just about spit beer across the room when they showed an animation reinactment of the guy doing fast draw in the bathroom.
What a dork.
They need to start a TSA military style boot camp for these chuckleheads. Teach them the basics about firing a service weapon, ensure they can meet basic physical fitness requirements, and then weed out all of the inept, lazy, police academy dropout types.
Heck, they probably need to raise their wages at least 25% while they are at it too otherwise we will continue to get these out-of-shape rent-a-cop types who seem to think those badges actually mean they have authority over the public.
“They need to start a TSA military style boot camp for these chuckleheads.”
Are you talking about the SFPD? One night at a council meeting Staggers asked PC Barthel if the SF Police officers have to meet some physical requirements. Thank God I was at home watching because I was laughing hysterically. Barthel, a little taken back with the question paused for a moment and didn’t know how to answer, finally, frustrated, he says, “They have to be able to perform their job.” The same night Kermit asked about the FREE meals at the hospitals too.
They’re already overpaid and they get a full federal retirement with primo health care. I’d suggest recruiting retired cops or police with at least 5 years experience. They’ve had the training and recognize which people are suspicious. They also treat people with proper respect and have worked out the ego problem. Enlist new officers into police forces to replace those hired away. Police academys have good training and weed out the misfits. New officers can be brought on at less pay to justify training costs.
My brother applied to be on the SFPD. They don’t accept candidates under 25 years old – even if they’ve seen and survived more potentially deadly situations in one of their 22 years than the entire SFPD has ever seen.
They have some physical requirements to get on the force, but I don’t know if there are any to stay on the force.
On another note, I’ve found that the most respectful, professional officers I’ve met all work in cities where there is actual violent crime to worry about.
The cops who bust kids in college towns for underage drinking and carrying less than an ounce of weed are dicks.
The SFPD is somewhere in between.
You are right, the SFPD is somewhere in between . . . in between McDonalds and a Hospital cafeteria
Just to set the record straight. This story had zero to do with the TSA as they are not responsible for securing government buildings. You guys may have issues with them but for once this wasn’t about them.
And Ghost, if you ever want to fly you will turn over your belonging, ie luggage, to the TSA or you will not be flying…
So how long have you worked for the TSA?
I don’t but I do work at the various airports and deal with them on a regular basis and find that those here in SD are actually quite professional especially considering the a-holes they have to deal with on a regular basis.
No need to get butt-hurt about it.
The TSA goons here aren’t terrible, but good gawd I’ve run into some real morons elsewhere. One guy at DIA got all excited after he wanded me and “found something”. There was a dime deep in my jeans pocket that I didn’t know was there. I swear I could hear his adrenaline kick in when he almost yelled “what’s in your pocket?” (this was a few months after 9/11).
The idea that these people are going to prevent a weapon getting on a plane is ridiculous. Besides, if I was some jihadist asshat and wanted to kill a lot of people, I’d hit the security line in Atlanta or Denver – huge bottleneck, completely exposed. Why? Because everyone has to take off their shoes so the TSA can check for wicks and their belts so the metal detector doesn’t go off. The TSA at our airports is nothing but security theater.
BTW, BW Jr., if you can find a teenage pothead TSA goon, I’ll hand over my luggage for the privilege of flying at your airport.
Ghost feel free to find the most stoned TSA agent you can find before checking your bags but good luck as they probably take as many piss tests as the guy flying your plane. My one and only point was you all here were railing on the TSA and for once the article wasn’t about them.
And as far as finding weapons, being someone that actually works on the technology for a living that is used to find the bombs/weapons all I can say is you would be surprised by what they can and do find especially considering how much has changed since your obviously outdated example.
Anyone can get a 6-10″ ceramic knife through these guys. There are less than 6 oz. ingredients to C-4 that can be combined into a jell once through security. A blasting cap can be fashioned from an MP-3 player. This whole thing is a joke fashioned to make people feel safe and further the Patriot Act into full government control.
One lesson I learned from combat experience. They put you there but you get yourself home. The first thing I did was turn in the M-16 and buy a 100 round grease gun. They look the other way when you use white phosphorous or direct napolm. Other countries, justifyably, hate us.
PG, funny you bring up that stuff (maybe not so funny) the GOA investigators said they were able to put a bomb together in 4 minutes once they got in.
God help us!
Speaking of SFPIGD I had one yell at me out of his car window yesterday. I noticed that cops in SF like to do that, a lot, and usually when they are just being bossy, not for breaking the law. I was riding my rattling old cruiser bike home yesterday and I took a corner through a parking lot and when went onto the street I came about a foot away from a cop car in the opposite lane waiting at a light, I was only going about 10 mph, I think I startled him, so he yells, ‘Slow Down’ I turned around and said ‘I’m on a bike.’ I was confused by his statement. I guess going 10 mph on bicycle is too fast now.
And as far as finding weapons, being someone that actually works on the technology for a living that is used to find the bombs/weapons all I can say is you would be surprised by what they can and do find especially considering how much has changed since your obviously outdated example.
So the security theater has new props. Yippie!
If someone was bound and determined to get a weapon on an airplane, they could easily do it.
If a moron tries to get a weapon on a plane, he’ll get caught and everyone will praise our security theater.
Also, like isaid, there’s no need to get butt-hurt. Lighten up.
It’s always orange alert. Uncle Sam is watching for terrorists and watching you. You should be red alert. You’ll notice terrorists well before Uncle Sam and your constitutional rights constantly challenged. Does TSA stand for ‘The Socialist Arians’?