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Airport Security Under Investigation
There are concerns over security operations at Salt Lake International Airport during the Olympics. An investigation is underway.
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(Mar. 20, 2002)------ View Real Video - Click On Desired Bandwidth
John Hollenhorst reports
Besides an investigation into security at the airport during the Games, some people are calling into question the portrait we've had of a smooth-running, highly secure operation.
Airport officials say the investigation stems from internal squabbles between federal agencies. And they say there's no reason to doubt the quality of security.
But a published report today portrays the security situation at the Salt Lake airport during the Olympics as a dangerous mess.
John Hollenhorst has details.
USA Today is reporting that 19 federal security agents complained bitterly about their experiences in Salt Lake, and took the unprecedented step of demanding an investigation.
The airport's director asked for an investigation too, but for other reasons.
There were no terrorist incidents at the airport during the Olympics. No acts of war.
But there seems to have been a bureaucratic war, of sorts, and federal agencies may still be squabbling behind the scenes.
Tim Campbell/Airport Director: "I think they have a little food fight going on, and they need to get it straightened out."
That squabbling has broken out into print.
Anonymous security agents are quoted as saying security was a mess, security procedures were blatantly ignored.
One anonymous agent told USA Today, "This was a dangerous situation and we were being told to kep our mouths shut."
That premise is disputed by airport director Tim Campbell. "We had as much security at an airport as there is anyplace in the world today, frankly."
Airport security during the Olympics involved an alphabet soup of federal agencies.
Tim Campbell: "We had Secret Service, FBI, FAA, TSA..."
If you've never heard of TSA, it's no surprise. The Transportation Security Agency is brand new, a result of Congress wanting more federal control of airport security.
TSA came in during the Olympics, and according to the airport director, never got into an effective working relationship with other agencies, the airport or the airlines.
Tim Campbell: "I think that their approach was not collaborative. It was not one of partnership. It was really very adversarial, and frankly, a little arrogant at times."
He says the complaints surfacing now reflect the back-biting and infighting, not actual security problems.
Campbell himself demanded an investigation of one incident. TSA ordered a terminal evacutaion right after the closing ceremonies because a magnetometer appeared to be malfunctiong, and 500 passengers missed their flights.
Tim Campbell: "I think they just showed poor judgement, frankly."
But the thrust of the anonymous allegation is in the other direction-- too little concern about security.
Federal agencies acknowledge they're investigating. But they won't say exactly what they're investigating.
Link
USA Today: "Agents fault Salt Lake air security"
