Stephanie West
March 31, 2014
Los Angeles, – American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President J. David Cox, Sr. testified March 28 before the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Transportation Security. The hearing took place at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Airport screening security was discussed for several hours. The hearing comes in the wake of last year's tragic shooting that took the life of one officer and wounded two others. AFGE represents 45,000 TSA officers nationwide.
Cox renewed the union's call for the creation of a new armed law enforcement unit within TSA to ensure immediate and consistent protection of screening areas at airports nationwide.
"As we have learned since November 1st, current airport law enforcement operations have gaps and inconsistencies that leave TSOs and passengers vulnerable. Many airports have no armed law enforcement officers stationed at or in the airport," testified Cox.
AFGE believes TSA should create an armed Transportation Security Law Enforcement Officer (TS-LEO) position that is assigned to protect TSOs and passengers at airport checkpoints and other key locations within airports.
*The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 45,000 TSA officers nationwide and a total of 670,000 members.
