TSA Management Continues to Jeopardize Public and Employee Safety At Airports
The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) hails the 16 Members of Congress who have signed on to cosponsor HR 5720, The Checkpoint Safety Act of 2016, which was introduced by Congressman Eliot Engel and will ensure large airports have a dedicated, armed local law enforcement officer near the screening area to reinforce Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and fortify the most crucial traveler chokepoint.
“Preservation of Life” Award Presents a Perilous Quandary for Officers
On September 8, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck honored 25 officers with the inaugural “Preservation of Life” medal for not using deadly force during dangerous encounters. Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, notes that in this era of intense scrutiny of law enforcement practices, the Department’s controversial new award might be the start of a nationwide trend: “The LAPD is held in special regard, so for them to put this award at the same level as the Medal of Valor sends a huge message to the entire policing profession.”
AAAPO Denounces Weekend Violence and Terror
The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) denounces the weekend of violence and terror which saw the shooting of two police officers in West Philadelphia on Friday night that claimed the life of a bystander and wounded five others; a stabbing spree at a Minnesota mall on Saturday which injured nine; as well as an explosion near a Marine Corps charity race in Seaside Heights, New Jersey and an explosion in New York City which injured 29 people and led to the discovery of a second bomb in the City, also on Saturday; which was followed by three pipe bombs and two smaller explosive
devices found in Elizabeth, New Jersey on Sunday night. AAAPO sends our condolences to the victims and those injured in these senseless acts.
TSA Management Fails Again — TSA Canine Bomb Teams
The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) has long questioned the effectiveness of TSA canine teams at airports. While the general public and many public policy makers would not understand the difference between TSA managed canine teams and law enforcement canine teams, the distinction in training, function, productivity and ultimately effectiveness is stark.
Fortification of Screening Checkpoints Needed
Los Angeles, CA – The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) has long warned that the TSA screening checkpoint is the most sensitive and vulnerable area at an airport, as it is the main chokepoint in the airport and is designed to be the last barricade to detect and stop threats from reaching airplanes. This concern was reinforced during the recent “false alarms” at LAX and JFK airports.