TSA Officials: Proper Procedures Were Followed In Cases Of Elderly Strip-Searching

Without Cameras In Private Screening Rooms, It's Case Of He Said, She Said

December 6, 2011 8:06 PM

Lenore Zimmerman (L) and Ruth Sherman (R) both claim they were strip-searched at Kennedy Airport (credit: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — There’s new fallout over airport screening procedures after three women say they were strip-searched at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

On Tuesday a former top-ranking Transportation Security Administration agent weighed in, CBS 2’s Kathryn Brown reports.

They are three women, all over 60, all with medical issues and all with nearly identical stories of humiliation, while traveling through security at Kennedy last weekend.

“I’ve never heard of someone’s pants or underwear being taken off,” former Deputy Federal Security Director Russell McCaffrey said.

After nine years as a deputy director with the TSA at Newark Liberty International Airport, McCaffrey said the claims from three women that they were strip searched at JFK are stunning.

“I think there may be a little more to the story,” McCaffrey said.

The incidents all happened within one day in the same terminal. Two of the women were on the same flight.

And one by one they have come forward with claims of being forced to take off their pants, so TSA agents could examine their medical apparatus.

In Ruth Sherman’s case, it was a colostomy bag.

“She said please pull down your pants. I was crying then. I couldn’t believe it,” Sherman said.

The TSA’s own policy states passengers with a colostomy or urine bag “…will not be required to expose these devices for inspection.”

And that passengers should not be asked to “lift, remove, or raise any article of clothing to reveal a sensitive area of the body” … including the groin.

They are policies that appear to have been violated by agents.

“There’s been an evolution at the airports in inspections and pat-downs and I think it’s getting better,” said John Page, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Gage, who is the president of the union that represents TSA agents, said Sherman never told agents she had a colostomy bag — only “a bag.” And when agents saw what it was they backed off.

“The officers followed standard operating procedure and, of course, their activities were on tape,” Gage said.

But there are no cameras in the private screening rooms.

In a statement, the TSA said the agency is reviewing the allegations but, “Our preliminary review of each of these claims indicates all screening procedures were followed.”

McCaffrey said the jury is still out on whether the agents acted properly.

“Typically, alarms can be resolved very easily with a pat-down, with an explosive swab sample to make sure that the item doesn’t contain any type of explosive charge,” McCaffrey said.

CBS 2’s Brown spoke with a woman Tuesday, an airline passenger, who also has an insulin pump. She said when she travels screeners give her a glove, have her touch her pump and then they swab her gloved hand, avoiding anyone actually touching her.

Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.

TSA Officials: Proper Procedures Were Followed In Cases Of Elderly Strip Searching

vic D

welcome back to the U.S.S.R. COMRADES. and you thought communism was dead. its alive and well in DC. wake up kiddies. this is only the beginning. this country has gone to hell in a hand basket . my parents and I escaped the soviet union back in 1974. and now you morons have elected a Marxist Muslim Monkey into the white house,and have elected numerous legislators into all positions of government- “for social justice, equality and fairness.” , guess what, this is all code for Marxism, which leads to communism. hey brother can you spare a dime?
TJG

And the guards running the concentration camps followed correct procedures as well. Idiots.

Sgt. Schultz

THe TSA are the actual airplane terrorists now.
Brian

The real “Procedure” is. If the stupid sheeple refuse to be irradiated in our giant microwave ovens. Then you are to punish them by humiliation and degredation. If the then pull out a copy of the United states Constitution. That person is obiously the real terrorists and our real targets.

They must be made to submit and grow accustomed to the new velvet lined chains they unknowningly wear. Later because of cost concerns we can remove the velvet, by then it will be too late for them.

LIBERTY NOW

Tyranny Strikes Again….
Holding on to religion and guns.

I see all this outrage on here but what are YOU doing about it besides complaining on here. I no longer fly. Until we as a whole do somthing about it, NOTHING will change. I take that back, it will only get worse.

Brian

Do you no longer drive as well, the TSA is stopping people on the highway now. You better make sure you have your “papers.”

The entire government has termites now, it must be restored to it’s original glory. Thankfully the foundation is sound. The Constitution and the founding fathers original intent.

Disband the FED, Disband the IRS, Dispand the TSA and many many more agencies…

Punish elected officials for violations of there Oath of Office. To “Protect and Serve the Constitution of the United States.”

Restore State representation by allowing governers to again appoint Senators.

Institute Term Limits on all elected and APPOINTED officials, yes that means supreme court judges. Impeach judges that violate their oath of office.

and much much more….

Brian

Oh, and make Congressmen and Senators spend most of there time at home in there elected area. They should only be up in DC a couple times a year, as it was originally done.

They quickly loose touch with reality and the people that elected them in DC.

Archie Bunkert

WTC7 was NOT hit by a plane and collapsed in 8 seconds on 9111, it fell at freefall speed, symetrically and in on its own footprint. 1500 Architects and Engineers for 911 Truth know it was a Controlled Demolition.

SquidVetOhio

Did you notice the 2 GIGANTIC skyscrapers that fell beside it you dunce? Did you ever take a physics class you moron? You losers need to move on. If you want a conspiracy, you would have better chance with OK City bombing. At least there is tape of bomb squad members telling reporters of an un-detonated bomb they found. But the 9/11 stuff is old and disproven.

Archie Bunkert

Yes I did. And read the NIST report that says one column (col #77) was compromised causing a chain reaction which compromised thousands of weld and bollted connecttions. This of course is a lie, because I am an Architect. WTC7 Collapsed from a controlled demolition. The 911 Commission omitted WTC7 from their final report and 7 of the 11 commissioners now say, they were lied to by the Pentagon.. Obviously I know more about this than you do.

vcollins

Oh yes and what the heck does that have to do with this article and topic??? Typical liberalism/comicrat/socialist, change the topic of the discussion to suit thier own agenda!!!!

Archie Bunkert

Oh now I’m a Liberal?. good argument.. The point is, the war on terror is
fabricated and until the public knows the complete facts about 911, and all the perpetrators are brought to justice, the TSA will only get worse. The 911 commission admits, the pentagon lied to it. Sounds like I know more about the subject than you do and am not here to bring you up to speed. If you are too stupid to figure it out or do research on your own, you are beyond hope.

tinfoil nemesis

Please post a list of your designed buildings. I’d never want to step foot in anything designed by one who would ignore proven concepts of heat transfer, materials science, thermodynics, and statics, to embrace a conspiracy theory.

Archie Bunkert

Big words.. heat transfer? thermodynamics? OK.
Jet fuel burns at 800 degrees C, and Hardened A36 Steel is compromised at 2200 degrees C. so there is your Thermodynamics.

tinfoil nemesis

Ever hear of annealing Archie? Steel can be annealed at temp of 1000 degs or less, depending on time. Those temps are easily achieved inside a burning building with low oxygen or ventalation. Did anyone every explain to you how the ancients could make melt iron using charcoal as a fuel? Charcoal burns at around 700 degrees, BTW.

Archie Bunkert

So they used Charcoal to melt the building?. the tinfoil hat is starting to
conduct beams of charge. YOU FOOL. I am willing to bet you haven’t an interest in anything.

tinfoil nemesis

Archie, reread my post. As usual with you troofers, the minute actual thermodymics and heat transfer concepts are intoduced, you are lost. To put it in terms that your concrete skull can understand. The flash point of the fuel is only partially relevant. Heat may build in an enclosed space until the temp far exceeds the iignition point of the fuel. Add more heat than is released, temp will rise. Archie perhaps you should TRY to take a thermodynamics or heat transfer class. (I’m doubting you are smart enough to pass). If you can’t argue on thiese concepts, then you just appear foolish. You need to realize you’re investment in an idea that is so easily contradicted is more an indication of your unwillingness to accept you’re mistaken than anything else.

Popeye Doyle

The Towers fell beside Building 7. If I drop a 10 pound weight next to a tonka truck, how does the 10 pound weight eventually collapse the truck, it it miss it?
That is what happened. The Towers did do minor facade damage to WTC7, but the building was perfectly fine until 520 that day, when it fell in about 8 seconds and 6 hours later. How does that happen unless it was blown up? and don’t say fire, because the NYFD said there were under control.

tinfoil nemesis

I’m sorry Popeye, it’s just a compulsion of mine to beat “Truthers” into the ground.

PeteM

A$$HOLE!

Archie Bunkert

Thankyout.. I guess giving me the money sign is Goodluck? Playing the Powerball tonight..

Richard Villanova

Apparently in America you’re considered a terrorist until proven otherwise. This has gotten way out of control. What has the TSA actually stopped? Nothing…
Oscar Possum

So glad the TSA rapists followed their dear leader’s protocol.
Jack Carter

So, what IS the proper procedure for strip-searching a little old lady?

Brian

The first responce the TSA put out said that “they HAD NO PROCEDURES for STRIP SEARCHING. Therefore the the first old lady was just a big fat lier” so it never happened.

Now they say proper procedure, and now they are stopping people on the highway. Time to put those Brown Shirts out of business.

Disgusted

“I think there may be a little more to the story,” McCaffrey said.

How condescending! They are obviously slanted in favor of their agents rather than the public.

This is bogus. No cameras in the room. Three women, independent of each other all just imagined, misinterpreted, or made up the story? Give me a break.
Archy Cary

TSA = Transportation Stupid Administration, headed by Janet Incompatano.

(Thank you CBS and other MSM outlets for shilling for this administration in the ’08 election. We’ll remember.)
RUFUS LEVIN

F-ing Union communist goons and the idiot in charge of Homeland F-ing Security….THIS IS DAMN NEAR ENOUGH TO REBEL AGAINST OUR GOVERNMENT INTRUSION ON PRIVACY….IT IS ILLEGAL AND CAN NOT GO ON ANYMORE.

KICK THE IDIOT OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND ALL OF HIS CHICAGO THUG LIBERAL CRONIES THAT ARE DESTROYING AMERICA.

THESE LADIES NEVER EVER THOUGHT THAT AMERICA WOULD BECOME A LAND OF POLICE THUG ANIMALS MANHANDLING ELDERS.

THIS CANNOT STAND ANYMORE!!!!
Mark Langley

The TSA first denied that this happened, at all. How could they have followed proper procedures with something that never happened?

RUFUS LEVIN

BECAUSE THEY AND ALL THE FOLKS IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ALL LIE LIE LIE LIE LIE.

BRBSanDiego

Obama did not initiate the TSA. This is an independent gestapo type group run by the lesbian equivalent of Adolf Eichmann – look it up. The German TSA stopped and searched every train passenger going in or out of Germany. This was tyranny and now we have it here.

Brian

They denied they even had procedures for strip searching anyone. Called the first lady a lier.

Bobby

Unbelievable that Mr. Reno is still in charge.
JOe Dutra

Just because Janet likes that type of search doesn’t mean everybody does.
Sommer Gentry

Strip-searching an innocent person who is not a suspect or an inmate can never, ever be proper procedure. The fact that the TSA thinks ripping the clothing off its victims is proper procedure should tell us everything we need to know about this despicable gang of violent criminals.

Eric J

That’s exactly the point. This WAS proper procedure. They meant to do this. But recall, initially they denied it. TSA is useless.
kurt

In MN, it is against the law to strip search anyone who is not an inmate, or suspect of a felony level offense.
That’s right, you don’t even get strip searched when booked into jail unless your a violent felon.

DanTe

T (The)
S (Stupid)
A (A Holes)

Keeps hiring pervs with grandma fetishes. Are you sure they’re not the elderly ra pists cops are looking for?
Jimmy

You know, the TSA does provide jobs for the otherwise unemployable so It’s good for the economy. I think.

Wolf

Yea, it’s a great job that sexual predators & child molesters can apply for.

Vernon Hell

Like the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, DEA and other security-related government agencies, the TSA is an organization of VICIOUS LIARS! Let us pray that they all get cancer, die in agony and burn in everlasting HELL!

Survivor

Won’t that be something when YOU get cancer, die in agony, and burn in everlasting hell.

Bill Fisher

It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.
Hubert H. Humphrey

TSA Fails on all counts.
Maria Guerra

Then you are an idiot to. Let’s have TSA grab your balls, Adolfo, and see how fast you call a lawyer.

H. Toad

I wouldn’t mind that myself

Larry Schwarz

I do not blame The TSA.Only The TSA people at Kennedy Airport.Do not blame the whole TSA because of a few incompetent ones at JFK.If they knowingly violated the rules they should be fired,if not then they need retraining.

Maria Guerra

Then you are an idiot. TSA is an arm of the go ernment engaged in subjugation by intimidation. That’s the whole point. Let’s see how you feel when TSA sticks their hands I. Your pants.

Larry Schwarz

I go through the body scanner,I have no problem with it,and have never had a problem with TSA in that manner.I did have a problem when they covered the bin containing my laptop with other empty bins,and no one at TSA offered to help or apologized.Come through Salt Lake City International sometime.The TSA agents out here are ploite,helpful,even passengers that have additional screenings are treated with respect and dignity.They know how to do their jobs.At Kennedy they are just rude New Yorkers and judging by your first sentence,Are you any different?.

David Hioki

“Our preliminary review of each of these claims indicates all screening procedures were followed.”

Wrong Political correctness and security do not mix. There is a systemic problem with the TSA. This security model does not work. If it weren’t for incompetent terrorists, there would have been significant loss of life and probably more brutish security measures. The terrorists will always be a step ahead of the TSA.

I would rather take my chances and overpower a terrorist than have my family humiliated at the airport. Let’s ROLL!
RUFUS LEVIN

YOU F-ING RETARD…THESE WERE NOT LAPTOPS…THESE WERE OLD LADIES WITH MEDICAL PARAPHENALIA….WHEN YOUR LAPTOP IS ATTACHED TO YOUR INTESTINES AND HANGS OVER YOUR BUTT, THEN YOU MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE…..YOU ARE AN IDIOT…PLAIN AND SIMPLE. STFU.

Disgusted

Rufus, I am opposed to the TSA and their horrible behavior. But you are being just rude and obnoxious. All caps really? Do you know how to use the toggle to italicize or bold? You’re words are abusive and meant to intimidate. An arsenal of people who cannot hold civil and intelligentconversation.

Brian

I suggest you read up on why these very same devices were banned in Europe. These things are NOT safe.

Now go drink your clorinated water out of a BPA plastic bottle. When you feel bad, take the federally approved medication you were issued that is intended to only treat, not cure.

Be a good consumer slave and don’t question authority…

panhead20

Uncontrolled search and seizure is one of the first and most effective weapons in the arsenal of every arbitrary government. Among deprivations of rights, none is so effective in cowing a population, crushing the spirit of the individual and putting terror in every heart.

Justice Robert Jackson, chief U.S. prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials
Dave Tibet

They’re the government so what we’re to expect they would tell the truth! Always with the cover ups.

What ever happened to our right to liberty where now we have to give up our right to privacy in order to exercise our right to liberty. Constant constitutional abuses but our government and not enough care to stand up to these abuses!!!
Cindy

My mother was inappropriately groped going through Houston (IAH). These are TSA “officials” who have NOT been trained appropriately and are SUB-standard-contracted. I mean REALLY?!?!? And please don’t say that it’s a small price to pay for safety!! These people are CLUELESS and represent sappy-poorly-run-lets-give-them-business-government-contractor businesses.

Maria Guerra

There is no “appropriate” training possible when the action itself is inappropriate.
headed for the sunset

“groped going through Houston” ???

If they get away with this in Houston then we are doomed.

What happened to “don’t mess with Texas”?

pete

My wife has a hip replacement and at JFK she fears to go through TSA screening. Last time they hit her 3 times against her vagina. When she told the woman, what is the matter with you, do you expect that a bomb falls out, she answered, you better shut up or you don’t fly. What a bunch of arrogant Low-Lifes!!! And all they now do is, lie and deny.

Huh

Of course!…If you said you had a bomb while boarding an airplane, you should be handcuffed and escorted away. Plain and simple

pete

You are an idiot and I doubt that you even understood what was said. You probably would make an ideal TSA Agent at JFK.
RUFUS LEVIN

GO STRAIGHT TO HELL. PLAIN AND SIMPLE

Heidi Ho Ho Ho

Can’t they at least pass GO?

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TSA Officials: Proper Procedures Were Followed In Cases Of Elderly Strip-Searching

Without Cameras In Private Screening Rooms, It's Case Of He Said, She Said

December 6, 2011 8:06 PM

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