Security here in the United States, particularly after the events of September 11 2001, are a frequent topic in the media and often the target of criticism.  Recently, we’ve seen the introduction of new scanning image machines that can be used to “search” our bodies and invasively at that.  The TSA has ruled that if you decline to enter these machines, you’re now subject to a much more intrusive “pat down” search that seems designed to make entering the scanning image machine pleasant.

The reason people get upset with these security measures is because they are mere theater.  Ask anyone what it is and has been like traveling from Europe to the United States since the 1970’s and particularly since the 1990’s when it comes to security.  It has always been very serious business in Europe and I find it ironic that we dictate security terms to Europe since the truth is that much of what we engage in here wouldn’t meet muster in Europe.

Arguably, the security regimes are much the same now.  The difference is in the not-so-subtle details.  In Europe, those performing security checks are professionals behaving professionally while doing a very professional job.  Anyone who has passed through European security knows exactly what I’m talking about. 

Sadly, here in the United States, we rightly perceive much of our security being performed by people who strike us as the cheapest available for the job and who rarely strike us as being professionals doing a professional job. 

I found myself highly irritated when I was at DFW airport awaiting the arrival of a family member and watched TSA security people do what  could only be described as a bad job routinely.  Clearly someone had told these people that being “cheerful” and “friendly” would help.  First off, we don’t expect security people to be cheerful and friendly.  We really don’t and you won’t find them behaving that way in other places in the world.  We expect them to be professional. 

And not for nothing, “professional” isn’t defined as “macho cop” with a chip on his/her shoulder either.

In the time I spent watching these TSA team members, I noticed that the first woman performing ID checks was looking at the IDs but was NOT looking up at  the passengers faces.  If anything, she appeared intent on detecting a fraudulent ID.   Sadly, she misseed every opportunity to match that ID to a face and do a “gut check” on their intent. 

Next, there were two TSA team members attempting to marshal people’s goods into the x-ray machines and people through the metal detectors.  Well, actually, one of those two was doing that.  That person, a man, was doing a credible job of directing people on what to do to pass through security.  He was, however, again not looking at the faces of anyone he was addressing.  If anything, he appeared to be looking anywhere but at these people.  The other person, a man, spent most of his time flirting with the woman who was running the x-ray machine. 

Which brings us to the woman who was running the x-ray machine.  I have no idea of how you detect suspicious objects in luggage when you’re flirting with anyone.  It would seem to me that focus and attention would be the watchwords when it comes to this duty.   There were two lines and another person watching the other x-ray machine who was not flirting with anyone but who didn’t seem any more interested in focusing on the screen displaying people’s personal items either. 

Finally, there were three more post-metal detector TSA team members who were just talking *loud*.  When I say loud, I mean loud enough for me to clearly understand them from a good 40 to 50 feet away.  They were loud in barking at passengers, they were loud in discussing whether or not to eat at TGI Fridays and they were loud in their instructions to people they had to pat down.

Doesn’t sound very professional, does it?

Then I think about the time I was traveling from Belgium back to my home in the DFW area.  At the screening, the security people found a multi-tool in my briefcase.  A tool that had been in my briefcase since I left and which I had forgotten was in an interior pocket.  Suddenly I was “covered” on both sides by security personnel and escorted away (as I shouted to my wife to just get on the plane) to a secure area.  I was asked why I had the multi-tool and I explained it was literally a tool of my business at that time ( I was a general contractor) and had simply left it in the briefcase foolishly.  I was polite and direct with my response.  They continued to talk to me for another 2 minutes until satisfied I wasn’t a threat.  Then they escorted me back to the front of the airport to box and check in my tool for the flight.  Once done, I was escorted back to the security line where I once again went through all their security including a second pat down. 

Never once was it “macho cop” or “airy friendliness”.  It was entirely serious and professional.  And that, my friends, was in 1998.

That’s why we consider these procedures a joke here in the US.  They are theater rather than professional and even though we aren’t security professionals ourselves, we quickly detect that the people who are supposedly “guarding” us aren’t taking their own jobs seriously.  I am not a security professional and I cannot offer how the procedures could be better.  I can, however, argue that the front line people performing this job aren’tprofessional and its communicated day in and day out.

What’s more, when we hear of these same TSA personnel engaged in theft, intimidation and practical jokes while working, it doesn’t improve our sense that this duty and job are being taken seriously by anyone actually performing the role.  

It comes as no surprise to me that pilots (and other flight crew) are objecting to their treatment in lines.  It comes as no surprise to me that passengers are hostile to the procedures either.  I doubt seriously that anyone would object to these very same procedure *if* they were performed in a serious and professional manner.

But they really aren’t, are they.  Oh, occasionally we see it being done right.  The next time you do see that, notice that no one is arguing or complaining or groaning over the security they’re being asked to endure.  The people doing it are taking it seriously and the people going through it tend to take it seriously at that point too.

Filed under: Airports by ajax