Should airport security screeners be given police-style badges?

They aren’t trained like police, cannot carry firearms, cannot make arrests, and don’t deserve tin badges of authority. Additionally, the badges could be stolen, duplicated, and misused to commit crimes. The more symbols used, the more likely they will fall into the hands of people that will misuse them.

No, they shouldn’t be given police style badges. However, they should be provided with training and TESTING that insures they are competent at their jobs. In addition, these employees should have a background check that is second to none. From personal experiences I have very little faith in the benefit of the current screening process. Due to the fear of being accused of “profiling”, most don’t do a good job. PROFILING is exactly what this job is requires and should be the top concern.

Until American gets off this ridiculous Political Correctness fad we’ll continue to have problems with the effectiveness of any and all security measures.

A badge for a airport screener, sounds like gov’t at work again.

A badge for a airport screener, sounds like gov’t at work again.

A symbol, such as a badge, is a representation of the authority behind it. A police officer’s badge is respected because a professional law enforcement officer is wearing it. TSA personnel are simply security guards who’s primary job function is to enforce ridiculous rules.
The US Army tried a similar tactic a number of years ago. It was found that special forces soldiers had incredibly high morale. They also wore berets. In an effort to increase morale throughout the army it was decided that all soldiers would be given the opportunity to wear a beret.
This change did nothing for morale in the army and in fact diluted the pride of the special forces soldiers for a time.

As long as the Airport Security Screeners are unionized Government employees, they will not receive respect. If the screeners were retired police officers with years of experience, and didn’t have to follow the phony Political Correctness policies, they would earn our respect in no time.

TSA is already a pathetic joke… if they had a sharp metal badge perhaps they’d be able to throw it at a criminal? (Rather than the donut they’ve already got in their hands…)
jrj9746 is exactly right, political correctness has no place in security screening. They need to be trained to profile quickly and efficiently: Note the person sweating more than is normal, or looks nervous or isn’t a little old lady. When I saw TSA force an 80 year old woman to stagger through a metal detector without her crutches, I lost what little respect I had for them.

But for God’s sake don’t give them guns!!! They’d be a complete menace then. Maybe tasers… that seems “safer.”

Sorry, I can’t resist…. Badges?? We don’t need no steenking badges!!!

As a frequent flyer (100K miles annually) I have rarely seen travelers mistake the authority of TSA Personnel. Although TSA does not have local arrest authority, the Aviation Transportation Security Act of 2001, does give them the authority for search of personal property and seizure of contraband in their area of jurisdiction (i.e, Airport Checkpoint). It is a confusing law as it relates to the authority of TSA screeners. On the other hand, there are a lot of Agencies who issue badges and uniforms, but is it the badge that commands respect/recognition or the person behind the badge, acting in a professional, responsible manner, within the authority granted by legislation? I’d personally believe the later.

Only if they recieve police-style training and standards.

No, No, No. They are screeners with minimal experience, training and education. They deserve common courtesy and the respect they earn. What’s next, armed janitors to enforce recycling laws?

Respect is earned - not derived from a chunk of metal. All the TSA personnel need to do to gain respect is perform their duties like thinking competent employees. So long as they act like bored drones they are not likely to have respect - badge or no badge.

My experience with the Bush Gestapo has been quite unpleasant, and as a result, I have boycotted air travel for years now. The last thing this arrogant and misdirected security force needs now is this false legitimacy. It is simply one more step toward a police state when screening agents are allowed to be viewed as legitimate law enforcement. The next step WILL be tazers, then guns. Beware America, the most sinister changes are the most subtle - we’re already well down the path to an Orwellian future.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! TSA screeners are poorly trained and picked from those applicants who show marked authoritarion personalities. We refuse, out of shear stupidity at the altar of PC, to use the well proven Israeli method of airport security and screening. The Israelis even offered to help the U.S. set up an excellent airport screening and security system, for they have the infinite experience, but we refused their kind offer. No, TSA screeners will never deserve the privilege to wear a badge, for they will never be able to earn that privilege. That’s why I have not flown on a commercial airliner since June 2005 and never will again, even though the USAF requires a face-to-face meeting during even a Phase 1 SBIR contract period. I will NOT tolerate the presence of the fools and incompetents and tyrants of TSA.

They should wear a badge that says security screener, TSA employee. Any other misconception is a lie. We already get enough lies from our government. I have little respect for the people who made this rule and for the ones that follow it: “A 70 year old man with metal replacement knees should be forced to stand for 10 minutes with his arms outstretched while a security screener gives him the most excruciatingly-slow wanding of his life.” Since we’re talking respect, why not start with respect for the elderly?

Do you really want me to comment on “Arming” these screeners with a badge? Have you ever been through the line and come up to one of these “screeners” with a “copped” attitude? Now you want to give them a badge when they have not had “any” law enforcement training at all. Give me a break.

Badges have traditionally been carried by sworn personnel. Any other use is just to inflate an administrator’s ego. The key to pride in the workforce is better management.

I thought I was in the minority with a bad attitude towards the airport security, but see from the previous entries that I’m about average. Oil prices are not the only reason airlines are having a hard time.

A bigger fancier badge won’t fix the underlying issues. If it would, then to get ultimate respect, why not just give them a presidential seal to wear…. yeah, RIGHT!

NO, the screeners already wear distinctive uniforms with insignia indicating their function which is the point of the proposed badge. So a traveler knows the screener’s job and can see the armed police nearby. If a traveler chooses to be disrespectful, the police can be summoned quickly should the actions interfere with security or amount to harrasment.

It would probably be more appropriate to give them a hat with a flashing blue light.

We’re concerned about airport security, but we should be more concerned with the security about the various other transportation systems like; trains, trucks and ships.

TSA is ineffective for detering terrorism, but quite effective in undermining our freedoms and patience.

It is clear for the reasons stated by some many others that the badges are a bad idea.

The effort involved in boarding a plane is quite fatiguing and its no suprize that those involved have little patience.

That being said, the screeners are just doing thier job. They deserve no less courtesy than anyone else. They are not responsible for the procrustean rules developed by the TSA.

The important thing to remember is that it is the terrorists coupled with our governments reaction that is the cause of these problems.

It’s nopt about badges. It’s about recognition. To recongnize someone who might be of help when needed. TSAs know who and how to contact the correct responders the the given situation.

It is to late they already have badges in most large airports. The jury is still out on them. I hear some police are looking for them to make a mistake, and misuse their authority. They have gone thru training on what it means to wear a badge, and what authority they have. Some cities had problems with non police badge wearing workers, like guards, and restricted the type and shape of the badge. TSA badges look just like most Federal Police unfortunately.

Absolutely NOT! This is a real bad idea, and it could get people hurt. There’s an old saying about “looking like a duck.” These people would not be able to defend themselves if confusion reigned, and as has already been pointed out it easily could. A different type of badge should be used, not something that looks like a police officer.

Respectfully J. T.

From what I’ve seen the inner city residents are surely 100 percent employed by TSA. I guess that is a good thing for the unempolyment numbers but I must question anyone who believes they should be deputized. I suggest that their uniforms be more suited to the task, avoiding germs, and less soldier or police like. Power corupts and absolute power-well you know the rest. Wearing bio-suits would help with the attitude problem and may elict sympathy from travelers.

What a ridiculous idea - have someone wear a badge so they’ll be respected? Please!

Nothing wrong with giving these security people a uniform and a badge. Remember, may bus drivers have uniforms and badges. The problem is that these people only know how to guide passengers through the X-Ray machine and metal detector. The know nothing about profiling a passenger to sense if there is a potential problem.