TSA forces travelling policeman to remove his disabled four-year-old son's leg-braces

[horaholic]

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20100215_Daniel_Rubin__Another_case_of_TSA_overkill.html

Did you hear about the Camden cop whose disabled son wasn't allowed to pass through airport security unless he took off his leg braces?

Unfortunately, it's no joke. This happened to Bob Thomas, a 53-year-old officer in Camden's emergency crime suppression team, who was flying to Orlando in March with his wife, Leona, and their son, Ryan.

Ryan was taking his first flight, to Walt Disney World, for his fourth birthday.

The boy is developmentally delayed, one of the effects of being born 16 weeks prematurely. His ankles are malformed and his legs have low muscle tone. In March he was just starting to walk.

Mid-morning on March 19, his parents wheeled his stroller to the TSA security point, a couple of hours before their Southwest Airlines flight was to depart.

The boy's father broke down the stroller and put it on the conveyor belt as Leona Thomas walked Ryan through the metal detector.

The alarm went off.

The screener told them to take off the boy's braces.

The Thomases were dumbfounded. "I told them he can't walk without them on his own," Bob Thomas said.

"He said, 'He'll need to take them off.' "

Ryan's mother offered to walk him through the detector after they removed the braces, which are custom-made of metal and hardened plastic.

No, the screener replied. The boy had to walk on his own.

Leona Thomas said she was calm. Bob Thomas said he was starting to burn.

They complied, and Leona went first, followed by Ryan, followed by Bob, so the boy wouldn't be hurt if he fell. Ryan made it through.

By then, Bob Thomas was furious. He demanded to see a supervisor. The supervisor asked what was wrong.

"I told him, 'This is overkill. He's 4 years old. I don't think he's a terrorist.' "

The supervisor replied, "You know why we're doing this," Thomas said.

Thomas said he told the supervisor he was going to file a report, and at that point the man turned and walked away.

A Philadelphia police officer approached and asked what the problem was. Thomas said he identified himself and said he was a Camden officer. The Philadelphia officer suggested he calm down and enjoy his vacation.

Back home in Glassboro a week later, Bob Thomas called the airport manager and left her what he calls a terse message.

He was still angry enough last week to call me after I'd written a couple of columns about travelers' complaints of mistreatment by screeners at the airport.

"This was just stupid," he told me.

At the very least, it was not standard procedure.

On Friday, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said the boy never should have been told to remove his braces.

TSA policy should have allowed the parents to help the boy to a private screening area where he could have been swabbed for traces of explosive materials.

She said she wished Thomas had reported the matter to TSA immediately. "If screening is not properly done, we need to go back to that officer and offer retraining so it's corrected."

Davis also said TSA's security director at the airport, Bob Ellis, called Thomas last week to apologize. He gave Thomas the name of the agency's customer service representative, in case he has a problem at the airport in the future.

Afterward, Thomas said he appreciated Ellis' call. He said he had no interest in pursuing the matter further or in filing a lawsuit.

"I'm just looking for things to be done right," he said. "And I just want to make sure this isn't done to anyone else. Just abide by your standard operating procedures."

Some people just deserve a public beating.

 

[CaptainJ]

Rules are rules, I doubt it caused the kid any great harm to go a few feet without braces. It's in the interest of the security of everyone else, and airports can't just break government made laws just because they don't think someone looks like they are a terrorist.

Ofcourse it's crazy suspecting a kid of being a terrorist, but you have to put up with the laws of the gov you voted for.

 

[bigjohnson]

Ofcourse it's crazy suspecting a kid of being a terrorist, but you have to put up with the laws of the gov you voted for.

It's not crazy to suspect an adult of using a kid as a mule though.

 

[Luthor Rex]

Rules are rules

Rules that label 4 year old disabled children as potential terrorists are retarded and need to be changed. Regular police have digression when enforcing the law so that retarded outcomes like this don't happen.

Amerikkka needs to buy a fvcking clue and start using profiling for terrorists. Religion matters, but our delusional elites are scared that something un-PC might happen.

 

[horaholic]

Rules are rules, I doubt it caused the kid any great harm to go a few feet without braces. It's in the interest of the security of everyone else, and airports can't just break government made laws just because they don't think someone looks like they are a terrorist.

Ofcourse it's crazy suspecting a kid of being a terrorist, but you have to put up with the laws of the gov you voted for.

There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you, if you're defending that officer. The TSA even admitted they were totally wrong in the way they handled that. Fvck that 'rules are rules' bvllshyt! If someone made a rule that you had to stick a hot poker in your ass every day, would you do it?

TSA policy should have allowed the parents to help the boy to a private screening area where he could have been swabbed for traces of explosive materials.

The officer could have at the very least, helped the child through. The parents said he couldn't walk, and officer said he had to walk on his own. I wonder if he does that to people in wheelchairs too!

 

[f283000]

welcome to the new world order.

 

[bigjohnson]

The officer could have at the very least, helped the child through. The parents said he couldn't walk, and officer said he had to walk on his own. I wonder if he does that to people in wheelchairs too!

The officer was confronted with a highly unusual situation and didn't know what to do, and made a mistake. No one was injured or endangered. Ease up Commander Coty.

 

[backbreaker]

There is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you, if you're defending that officer. The TSA even admitted they were totally wrong in the way they handled that. Fvck that 'rules are rules' bvllshyt! If someone made a rule that you had to stick a hot poker in your ass every day, would you do it?



The officer could have at the very least, helped the child through. The parents said he couldn't walk, and officer said he had to walk on his own. I wonder if he does that to people in wheelchairs too!

no you are the one in the wrong here.

terrirorts pray on american's sentmentalism.

there is a good law and order Ci esposide where the guy assosinates a public speaker, and he got through security by coming through the door through a wheelchair.. he knew they didnt' have the stones to make him get up.

does it suck for the kid? yes.

but the officer did nothing wrong.

you think terrorists dont' sit at home and think of this type of stuff? they know we get too emotional about kids with leg braces and mentally retarded people and wheelchairs and stuff like that.

 

[Quiksilver]

Rules are rules, I doubt it caused the kid any great harm to go a few feet without braces. It's in the interest of the security of everyone else, and airports can't just break government made laws just because they don't think someone looks like they are a terrorist.

Ofcourse it's crazy suspecting a kid of being a terrorist, but you have to put up with the laws of the gov you voted for.

There hasn't been a true terrorist event on a plane in 9 years, and I doubt anyone can take over a plane with a leg brace.

Look, the door to the ****pit is bulletproof now, and pilots have been ordered not to open it under any circumstances(such as hostages in the cabin, etc). No one can take over a plane from the cabin anymore, period.

Now that we've established that, it must be recognized that the only potential then of terrorists on planes is to a) harm occupants b) destroy plane

A leg brace(I've worn one, they aren't dangerous and are primarily nylon padded fabric with 4 thin steel bars running from shin to thigh) cannot cause any serious damage to an aircraft, period.

So, a leg brace could then only be to cause harm to passengers on a plane... Then the question arises, why board a plane to attack someone? It's much easier, far safer to do so out on the street.

No, leg braces--like metal cutlery--should not be banned on planes and doing so is in response to public(emotional) thinking and without any rational reason.

So, in light of the fact that there haven't been genuine terrorist attacks involving planes in 9 years and there is no possibility of it happening again, why should a young boy with a fvcked leg be forced to walk on his own?

It's not a very important issue but the TSA is one of the most over-politicized and corrupt organizations in your country, and we are right to scrutinize what they are doing and why. Think for yourselves, don't let others tell you what to think regardless of their position.

 

[CaptainJ]

There hasn't been a true terrorist event on a plane in 9 years, and I doubt anyone can take over a plane with a leg brace.

Look, the door to the ****pit is bulletproof now, and pilots have been ordered not to open it under any circumstances(such as hostages in the cabin, etc). No one can take over a plane from the cabin anymore, period.

Now that we've established that, it must be recognized that the only potential then of terrorists on planes is to a) harm occupants b) destroy plane

A leg brace(I've worn one, they aren't dangerous and are primarily nylon padded fabric with 4 thin steel bars running from shin to thigh) cannot cause any serious damage to an aircraft, period.

So, a leg brace could then only be to cause harm to passengers on a plane... Then the question arises, why board a plane to attack someone? It's much easier, far safer to do so out on the street.

No, leg braces--like metal cutlery--should not be banned on planes and doing so is in response to public(emotional) thinking and without any rational reason.

So, in light of the fact that there haven't been genuine terrorist attacks involving planes in 9 years and there is no possibility of it happening again, why should a young boy with a fvcked leg be forced to walk on his own?

It's not a very important issue but the TSA is one of the most over-politicized and corrupt organizations in your country, and we are right to scrutinize what they are doing and why. Think for yourselves, don't let others tell you what to think regardless of their position.

Like bigjohnson said, the officer could have suspected the adult of using the kid as a mule. No one cares about the brace as the brace can't harm anyone, it's the fact that the kid could have been jam packed full of explosive or guns.

I still think it's over the top, but you Americans voted for the gov. that introduced the laws, so you gotta abide by them. The only thing that was harmed in the encounter was the Camden cop's ego. Is it really worth getting worked up so much about such a small thing, when in the long run such measures will protect people.

People who are raving over this are just buying into Newspaper hysteria rubbish. Who gives a sh1t about something so petty, when there are much bigger problems to deal with.

 

[BigJimbo]

Go to flyertalk.com to read about TSA Most of you have no clue. This forum continues to amaze me.

 

[horaholic]

Guys, it has NOTHING to do with them doing their job, for our safety. Its not about them inspecting a childs leg braces. Thats not the issue. Its the way they handled it. I dont give a shyt how unusual of a situation it is. They should have taken the kid to a room, and inspected him and his braces and swabbed them, or had a dog smell them or something. When a FOUR YEAR OLD kid struggles to walk in leg braces. You dont make him take them off, and demand that he walk UNASSISTED after the parents say he cant walk without help. The officer didnt let the parents help him. The officer could have at the very least helped the kid himself. I'm sure they could have screened the child without making him taking his braces off

I GAURANTEE there is a protocol for dealing with people with disabilities, and requiring special assistance. I'm sure plenty people go through security every day that have disabilities that arent treated like that. Does he tell people in wheelchairs to get out of it, and walk through the gate. The guy could have CARRIED him through the metal detector.

Dont tell me to ease up. This a$$hole made a crippled child walk without his supports or help. Plain and simple. There is NO excusing that. Not national security, not 'doing your job.' Nothing. The child wasnt hurt...luckily. He could have fell and broke his leg.

Even the TSA says the incident was handled in a bad way. Doesnt that right there tell you the officer was in the wrong? In other words, his BOSS, AND the government itself said he was wrong. Yet, you people are sticking up for him. Shyt like this pisses me off, and when people try to justify it, it pisses me off even more. I sure as hell didnt vote for that shyt.

 

[Maxtro]

The whole situation was completely messed up. There were many ways it could have been handled better.

I'm sure plenty people go through security every day that have disabilities that arent treated like that. Does he tell people in wheelchairs to get out of it, and walk through the gate.

Heh I just got an idea for a comedy sketch.

Jesus is working for the TSA.

Jesus: "Sir, please get out of the chair and walk through the security gate."

Guy in line: "I'm paralyzed from the waist down, I can't walk."

Jesus: "Sir, I'm going to have to call my supervisor if you don't get out of your chair and walk through."

Guy in line: "Oh my God, are you stupid or something I can't walk!

Jesus sighs and walks over to the man and layeths hands upon him. "Sir please get out of your chair and walk through the gate.

The man gets up; "It's a miracle I can walk!" the man walks through the gate and another TSA officer brings the wheelchair around.

Jesus: "Enjoy your flight" and he pats the man on the back. Suddenly the man falls back into his chair. "Noooo!!!"

 

[BigJimbo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTgegDIUocw

And Americans believe America is free. This s--- only could happen in America.

 

[bigjohnson]

I GAURANTEE there is a protocol for dealing with people with disabilities....

The guy could have CARRIED him through the metal detector. ....

Dont tell me to ease up.

Ease up, he's getting additional training and no one was hurt. Only one person can go through the metal detector at a time, that's standard protocol everywhere I've seen a MD used. This is not a national crisis here. Don't attribute malice where stupidity will suffice.

TSA pays diddly-squat and as a consequence they get morons working the detectors. It's life. I'll be braving their probing eyes again this week and I have no fear.

 

[Quiksilver]

Well the reality is this is the world we live in.

The front-line TSA grunts aren't your typical think-for-yourself individuals and that's what makes them employable in that position. They do what "boss" tells them regardless of who it hurts or how many it hurts. Following orders

I still think it's over the top, but you Americans voted for the gov. that introduced the laws, so you gotta abide by them.

Actually I believe it's the Senate which creates laws, so you can write to your state rep or district rep about this issue, which is your duty as a citizen.

It's political apathy that leads to issues such as this, and while it's minor in the grand scheme of things, it's still a bite of the elephant.

 

[Desdinova]

Some people are incredibly ignorant when it comes to those with mobility problems. Forcing the braces to be removed is inappropriate and insulting.

I work in the health care industry, and I've seen many people who have mobility problems. I've watched them transfer from wheelchairs to beds, toilets, chairs, etc. Some of them are very unstable without someone else around to help them transfer. Those with mobility problems are at high risk for injury from falling. If that 4 year old kid had fallen and injured himself while walking through the detector, the 5hit would have hit the fan. The airport and the screener were lucky that nothing happened.