Transportation Security Inspector - Surface

[Joeyd6]

This happens all day long and has never resulted in any of the 400-some cargo inspectors getting double-tapped.

Well than I have this to say:

1) If it happens every day, then YOU folks are not doing a decent job. Aws an inspector, you are tasked with OBSERVING things. If your observation skills are so lacking you can't see a human being in a truck cab, how do you plan on convincing anyone you have the skills to oberseve cargo contents and shipping documents?

2) And if a incident hasn't happened yet, that only means you folks have been lucky! Cargo has value. I would also think you place a value on yoru life. And some drivers have guns. And though not everyone is trying to pass improper stuff, you would not be job if somebody did not think people were trying to get by the system and violate the law.

Just cause I order a pizza and I am expecting it, doesn not mean the pizza guy who I am expecting can come walk in my front door.

Learn some respect. Everyone has a job to do, but you need to respect other people and their property.

[ButterChunk]

Well than I have this to say:

1) If it happens every day, then YOU folks are not doing a decent job. Aws an inspector, you are tasked with OBSERVING things. If your observation skills are so lacking you can't see a human being in a truck cab, how do you plan on convincing anyone you have the skills to oberseve cargo contents and shipping documents?

Agreed. I did not mean to suggest that it occurs when there is an obvious person sitting in the vehicle. That would be absurd. I suspect that Norm can shed more light on the circumstances that lends more credibility to the situation. And without getting into SSI, I would go further to say that they probably have recurrent issues in this area.

2) And if a incident hasn't happened yet, that only means you folks have been lucky! Cargo has value. I would also think you place a value on yoru life. And some drivers have guns. And though not everyone is trying to pass improper stuff, you would not be job if somebody did not think people were trying to get by the system and violate the law.

Again, the manner in which it was presented tends to create the impression that it was careless; however, I would hazard to guess that it was not. I value my life no less than you value your own; therefore, rest assured that we are as careful at executing our duties as you are when executing your own.

Just cause I order a pizza and I am expecting it, doesn not mean the pizza guy who I am expecting can come walk in my front door.

Apples and oranges. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not the pizza guy's job to test the physical security measures on your house.

Learn some respect. Everyone has a job to do, but you need to respect other people and their property.

Couldn't agree more. Please recognize, however, that we're not talking about an individual or their property. We are talking about a business entity -- a regulated business entity. Do you half-step at your job? I doubt it, so I don't appreciate anyone's suggestion that I should at mine. Trust me, I can all but guarantee that if you were there, you would have simply said, "oh, that's not a big deal".

I am seriously not trying to be argumentative. I am totally okay with someone relating a story and having an opinion about it. Where I get lost is when I'm issued an unsolicited, overly dramatic imperative on how to accomplish my job that has some veiled consequence behind it. Particularly when no inspector I've ever met creates any sort of dangerous or reckless situation when testing the system. It's a good job, don't get me wrong, but it's not *that* exciting! ;) Sure, we may annoy people at times, but the inspector in Norm's story didn't make the rules and is simply charged with enforcing them--hopefully, to the benefit of all those in the system, I might add. Peace!

[CelticPilot]

If you don't mind, I had a few more questions regarding these inspector postions:

1. What kind of experience are they looking for in regards to these positions...? I am interested in the aviation/aviation cargo side of things as my background is as a pilot for both commercial airlines + an international cargo airline. (before anyone asks why, fuel prices go up, pilot layoffs occur = me thinking about a different career)

2. If it is not exactly a LEO position, does that mean that I can apply for it even though I am 41...?

3. Are you still considered "Special Agents", or is that a designation only some inspectors (former LEO's ?) happen to have. The inspector I met gave me a card with that title. I also have wondered the same thing about the FAA Hazmat Inspectors, who also carry the "Special Agent" title, and had a federal badge on their business card.

4. Where do you have to go for training, and how long does it usually run...?


Thanks for the help

[ButterChunk]

1. Generally speaking, preferred candidates tend to have some level of experience in the interpretation and application of CFRs, but I have seen people with no experience get hired as well.

2. Yes, you can apply at 41 - there are no age restrictions since it is not an LE retirement covered position.

3. TSA inspectors are not referred to as Special Agents. There are a few 1811s in the TSA Office of Inspection and they would carry that title. Our credentials simply say "Inspector". I'm not sure why the FAA guys have the title since they are unarmed, non-LE 1801s as well. I expect there's a story behind it.

4. Initial training is four weeks in Oklahoma City with two weeks of additional training after some time on the job. Additional investigations training is in the works currently, but I haven't seen any dates on when it may roll out.

[slowhiteboy]

pending a good background check etc. Any existing TSI Surface types got any opinions / gouge / info? If so PM me please.

[mcsap]

Agreed. I did not mean to suggest that it occurs when there is an obvious person sitting in the vehicle. That would be absurd. I suspect that Norm can shed more light on the circumstances that lends more credibility to the situation. And without getting into SSI, I would go further to say that they probably have recurrent issues in this area.



Again, the manner in which it was presented tends to create the impression that it was careless; however, I would hazard to guess that it was not. I value my life no less than you value your own; therefore, rest assured that we are as careful at executing our duties as you are when executing your own.



Apples and oranges. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not the pizza guy's job to test the physical security measures on your house.



Couldn't agree more. Please recognize, however, that we're not talking about an individual or their property. We are talking about a business entity -- a regulated business entity. Do you half-step at your job? I doubt it, so I don't appreciate anyone's suggestion that I should at mine. Trust me, I can all but guarantee that if you were there, you would have simply said, "oh, that's not a big deal".

I am seriously not trying to be argumentative. I am totally okay with someone relating a story and having an opinion about it. Where I get lost is when I'm issued an unsolicited, overly dramatic imperative on how to accomplish my job that has some veiled consequence behind it. Particularly when no inspector I've ever met creates any sort of dangerous or reckless situation when testing the system. It's a good job, don't get me wrong, but it's not *that* exciting! ;) Sure, we may annoy people at times, but the inspector in Norm's story didn't make the rules and is simply charged with enforcing them--hopefully, to the benefit of all those in the system, I might add. Peace!

It is also legal to sneak up behind my parked cruiser at night and suddenly appear at my side window and say " HI !!" , but I wouldn't recommend it.

[scott715us]

The aviation industry has been regulated for a very long time so they are used to it and there's not much pushback

.

Not sure where you are located, but with regards to TSA Inspectors and airports, they have been doing a good job burning bridges with a considerable amount of airports and their respective LE agencies over the last couple of years. Some Airport LE agencies probably deserved the stiff penalties from DC thanks to TSA Inspectors, but recently it seems that anything they can find, no matter how ridiculous, has been a goal of there's just to justify they are doing something for the money they are getting paid. My agency is one of seven accredited airport law enforcement departments and we probably do 10x the amount of priority (aka TSA-related) checks than other agencies, yet it never seems good enough. I can tell you their actions have caused them to look down the barrel of a gun a couple of times, once by testing our response on an alarm system (motion detection) out on an active taxiway in the middle of the night. Honestly, it is not hard for anyone to walk around/bypass a motion detector alarm out on an airfield, yet the sh** hits the fan if we do something wrong in the process. Calls start pouring in to DC and an inquiry is started whether to fine our agency or not. It seems that TSA has a problem in some cases realizing that we are all trying to do the same job. Some of the inspectors are good friends and not that bad. Others are overzealous and make out like something they are not.

They probably get paid well, but on the aviation side, it would get old walking around and trying to bust persons for piggybacking one another through a door or finding an unattended baggage belt. I think the stress the Chief has had over the last 2 years since he attained office has been 98% TSA, although he would never admit it.

The Inspectors are needed, and originally the concept made plenty of sense, but nowadays it is starting to get ridiculous with them running around our airport and/or surrounding properties trying to find something to get someone in trouble.