4 top Sea-Tac security officials pulled from jobs

[icymist]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001923334_tsa08m.html

Saturday, May 08, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

4 top Sea-Tac security officials pulled from jobs

By Steve Miletich and Cheryl Phillips
Seattle Times staff reporters

After months of management problems, four top security officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, including the airport's security director, were removed from their jobs yesterday.

The sweeping shake-up by the federal Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers and baggage at more than 440 airports nationwide, comes in an ongoing review of management and leadership problems at the airport. A TSA spokesman declined to provide specific reasons for the moves until that review is complete.

"It was determined our screeners were not receiving the best possible leadership they deserve," said the spokesman, Nico Melendez. "A change was needed."

The director, Robert Blunk, and three of his top aides will be replaced immediately, TSA officials said.

A Seattle Times story in August detailed security problems at Sea-Tac airport that placed air travelers at risk. The problems included overworked employees at understaffed checkpoints; breakdowns in the screening of passengers and luggage; shortcuts taken by screeners; and failures by supervisors to follow standard procedures.

(more)

[NashVegas]

1. Great

now, if only they'll do something about those hour-long waits to go through security ..