TSA chief: Denver grope plot ‘disturbing’

Interim Transportation Security Administration Chief Melvin Carraway said a pair of agents fired for allegedly plotting to grope male passengers were terminated because they engaged in “egregiously inappropriate behavior.”   

The agents, a male and female who worked at Denver International Airport, are accused of manipulating security equipment at the airport to ensure the male agent could pat down “attractive” male passengers without drawing suspicion of improper behavior, according to a Denver police report. 

Carraway said in a blog post on the TSA’s website late Thursday night that the agents, who have not been named, are not representative of the agency’s entire workforce. 

{mosads}“This blatant violation of public trust by two individuals has significantly tarnished TSA’s reputation,” he wrote. “Think about it — in an agency that employs more than 50,000 people, the irresponsible and potentially illegal behavior of just one or two reckless employees can severely and negatively impact the operational effectiveness of everyone else committed to carrying out our vital national security mission.” 

Denver law enforcement officials said the male TSA agent would provide a signal to a female worker when he wanted to pat down a male passenger in her lane. She would then tell the agency’s computer system that it was scanning a female passenger. The confusion would lead the scanning machine to request further inspection. 

Police said they were informed of the collusion by an anonymous tip from a coworker of the two agents who have been fired. The allegations were later confirmed using video footage that was captured by security cameras at the airport’s TSA checkpoint. 

TSA protocols normally require pat-downs to be conducted by an agent of the same gender.

Carraway promised the TSA would work to undo the damage to its reputation that has been caused by the Denver groping incident. 

“The vast majority of our employees act with the utmost integrity and professionalism every day, but unfortunately the conduct of a few can do significant damage to the entire workforce — and this damage is very difficult to overcome,” Carraway continued. “We are committed to working very hard to prove ourselves to the public we serve in the months ahead to regain your trust.” 

Carraway also praised the TSA worker who tipped off police about the groping plot. 

“Our workforce is strongly encouraged to report illegal or unethical behavior wherever and whenever they see it,” he wrote. “Professionalism and integrity are at the core of who we are as counterterrorism professionals, and it is up to each and every one of us to demonstrate this with every passenger at every airport around the country. We must perform our work, for you the traveling public, with honor and pride. Anything less is a disservice and will not be tolerated.”