Airport Security Fired For Calling Passenger Ugly

A couple of thoughts: 1) I've passed through ROC many times, most recently departed there twice this month. 2) The video shows the east-most security lane, which is Pre-Check. 3) ROC uses a 3rd party contractor, NOT TSA union workers. 4) I've found the ROC security workers to be MUCH more friendly and common-sense than the usual TSA union staff. I've never heard them barking out orders and they've always been very polite and pleasant. I pulled a random the one time and the worker was so apologetic, professional, and honest about it. I almost felt sorry for him having to give me a government grope, as I refuse to use the nude-o-scope. 5) Considering that >500 of the TSA union workers have been arrested for everything from child sex to cocaine smuggling to stealing from passengers, I actually have more faith in a 3rd party. 6) If this was your typical TSA union worker, the worst they'd get was their supervisor telling them not to do that again. With this being a private contractor, they're able to fire unprofessional employees at will, which I believe is a good thing. 7) Was this a fireable offense? I'm torn. Did anyone die? No. Security risk? No. Bad judgement? Absolutely. Would that poor judgement translate into problems later on? Hard to say, but at the very least they wouldn't be working a public-facing position for me for a very long time. At worst, I'd say they weren't taking their job seriously and sack them. 8) I have to give ROC airport credit for their recent renovation. Almost purely cosmetic (new lighting, some wood trim, new bathrooms, nicer seating) but it's made a huge improvement.

@John: how would you feel if you were in his place receiving a note that you're ugly?

@Shaun The airport is clearly not that place for terrorist jokes, or weapons joke. But a note saying ugly is clearly a prank. "The guy obtained this video through a Freedom of Information request" A US black person would see it as a white guy trying to oppress a black girl, white supremacy. A US white person would see it as justice must prevail, I will not tolerate anything, I must to what is right. The middles school kids would see it as simply getting even. The rest of the world would see it as a waste of time to even get videos. Real equality is still a myth.

I think as long as there is harrassment of much grander scale against so many PoCs and women, this pales in comparison. However, I am not surprised that she gets fired for this. I always forget lotions and creams in my backpack and almost never get flagged down for it, but regularly see how they try to take away baby food from young mothers travelling with their babies. A couple of months ago I was able to take a 500ml bottle of body lotion through security and a PoC behind me had to strip down because he had a shirt and a sweatshirt on, and while they were at it, they also checked his laptop and he followed all the rules. What happened to this guy in the video is the exception but we have accepted all of the above as normal. Lucky, it would serve this site well to also get a PoCs perspective on travel. Part of why I read your blog is because you are not a straight man and you have some insights that help me broaden my understanding of the world. I would appreciate some more insights in this regard tho. It might attract a ton of readers that might not feel represented enough elsewhere. But of course outrage over calling someone ugly is necessary.

EDIT: Sorry, typo -- that should read "STAYS on your permanent record."