Job Discussion Forums

[chaiplz]

[Sashadroogie]

Hic! A pat-down causing all this fuss? You should be grateful your government allows you to fly at all - and to travel with your offspring. Sexual assault? Oh come on! Inappropriate touching? I believe the security officers are authorized to do security checks. You may choose to go to a doctor or not. You may choose to fly or not. But the system is the system and the system works hic!


Hic!

[artemisia]

I read the parents in question had requested their daughter be screened via x-ray and this was refused. Why? Everyone else in the family was. I think I'd be angry under those circumstances, too. Otherwise I suppose it might be good for young children to have it explained to them before they go to the airport - perhaps some demonstration video? Whether you agree with it or not, it's happening.

I'd rather 'submit' (ugh) to a pat-down than have to go into one of those machine screens that 'strips' you (double ugh). I have mixed feelings about it - hate the whole idea and yet there are some that do smuggle potential weapons aboard and I'd rather not find out all about it mid-air.

As far as Schnauzers (and dogs generally) go, I thought most of them are just dying for a 'pat-down' - yes even by strangers in some cases - and are quite likely to roll around shamelessly on the ground for more.

[spiral78]

If it were a child travelling with me, I'd say OK, but ask them to do it to me first, so that he/she could see it's OK in these circumstances.

As for schnauzers, don't be fooled by appearances! They're cute in appearance, but they function very much like wolves - fiercely loyal to their own, and (at least initially) entirely negative towards strangers who broach 'our' space. Even eye contact with him or me raises hackles.

He'll take an unwary hand off!

[Captain_Fil]

What's next?

Strip searches...

[artemisia]

Customs officials already have the power to do strip searches, though I don't suppose it happens often.

Spiral78:

[Sashadroogie]

Here in the Motherland pat-downs can also be cross-gender. Many is the time I've been frisked by a female officer

Have not seen it vice versa though. In any case, none of the objections raised on this page would meet much sympathy by the officers in question. Too many bomb blasts. In a high security zone civil liberties take a backseat. This has always been the case, as far as I know.

[artemisia]

Well, if we're talking about Russia then you don't need to be going through customs or actually flying to be in danger of bomb blasts. Just walking through an airport might be risky enough!

[naturegirl321]

Look, whether we like it or not, there are nutty people out there who would put bombs on babies. If they have to frisk a six year old or two, that's fine, as long as they're doing it correctly. The main thing is that the find the bombs or what have you.

[Guy Courchesne]

[johnslat]

Dear Guy,

Well, since you asked:
"
What's the Right Way To Pat Down a Suspect?
Grab, squeeze, and pull.
By Brian Palmer
Posted Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at 4:50 PM ET

"Following the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest airlines flight, the Transportation Security Administration has imposed pat-downs on all passengers as part of the security screening process. Is there any technique to patting someone down, or do you just grope away?
There are different techniques for different situations. TSA screeners, who deal with innocent and often anxious airline travelers, use a less-invasive pat-down. Soldiers and police officers, who face significantly more risk and usually have reason to believe their targets are armed, are somewhat less delicate. When inspecting the groin or breast area, TSA instructs its employees to use only the backs of their hands. Screeners do not typically search in between a female passenger's *beep* unless a metal detector has found something in the area. Fingers and palms may be used on the back, abdomen, arms, and legs (from midthigh to ankle), but even then only light pressure is applied. Screeners also must wear gloves. Of course, the protocol may change now that screeners are patting down everyone�and many passengers have complained that screeners don't follow the procedures to begin with.
The TSA pat-down doesn't have much in common with the search that soldiers or police officers conduct on suspects. In the latter, a suspect spreads his legs wider than shoulder width and places his hands on his head. Particularly dangerous targets must kneel with their ankles crossed or lie face down with arms and legs spread out. If the suspect is standing, the officer grasps the suspect's wrists with one hand and bends him slightly backward while conducting the search from behind. He places one foot between the suspect's feet and keeps the other back about 6 inches. This posture places the officer in a superior position. He then grabs the suspect's clothing at various points, pulls it away from the body, and squeezes. When searching below the waist, it is important to squat rather than bend over to maintain a positional advantage. While one officer searches, two others stand in front of the target but out of his reach. (The legal standards for when a police officer may pat down a suspect, and how thoroughly, are complicated. In general, though, the officer must reasonably suspect that the target is armed.)

Even when dealing with potentially dangerous criminals, police are expected to exercise some discretion. They should warn the suspect before touching sensitive areas. When practical, they feel around the perimeter of a woman's *beep* using the side of the hand, and the outside of the thumb when searching the breast's underside so as not to suggest cupping. But if the situation warrants it, they will run their hands between a suspect's *beep*, or even inside his or her undergarments in search of small blades."


http://www.slate.com/id/2239993/

TMI?

Regards,
John

[Sashadroogie]

[Guy Courchesne]

Thanks John...thoroughly disturbing.

[geaaronson]

I don`t see what the big deal is. If it`s for my security, yes, I would prefer a 6year old patted down. Yes, a terrorist will plant a bomb on a child. If he has no moral compunctions against blowing up a 747, he has no compunction against planting a bomb on an innocent.

I have been patted down several times. It`s uncomfortable, but I am reassured security measures are in place.

And yes, when I was a freshman college student, there were rumors that one of my freshman had planted his drugs in his mother`s luggage to avoid detection. She went by another plane. She got caught and of course swore that she was innocent. They believed her.

I would have dismissed the rumor as hearsay except it was the same kid who pulled a switchblade on me and along with his rowdy friends, laughed their heads off when I stopped dead in my tracks 6 inches from the blade. I even recall his name. MOD EDIT.

[spiral78]

MOD EDIT

No doubt currently teaching EFL in some very shady location, without any quals, and with a bevy of scrawny locals at his beck and call. Heading for disaster and giving the industry a bad name