TSA firing 8 air marshals for drinking on duty

AP Photo/Michael C. York

(CBS News) The Transportation Security Administration is in the process of firing eight federal air marshals for drinking alcohol while on duty during a training session in New York. Six additional air marshals are being suspended for not reporting the misconduct.

A TSA spokesman said the incident happened in February at a New York restaurant. The 14 air marshals allegedly involved were taking part in a training session that day. They were not scheduled to fly, but were still considered to be on duty.

The TSA strictly forbids drinking for any air marshal deemed to be on the job.

"TSA holds all of its employees to the highest professional and ethical standards and has zero tolerance for misconduct in the workplace," the agency said in a statement. "TSA's decision to remove the individuals involved in the misconduct affirms our strong commitment to the highest standards of conduct and accountability."

Of the eight air marshals being fired, one is a supervisor and one is a probationary employee. The probationary employee has been terminated and the other seven have the right to appeal. It's not known if any of them will file an appeal.

The FAMS who are being disciplined have turned in their weapons and their credentials have been pulled.

The TSA spokesman said the agency found out about the alleged drinking from a tip emailed to a TSA website used by employees to report bad behavior.

[ksmit2]

The TSA is stinging from the fact that the public considers them
one of the biggest jokes of the 21st century. After shaking down
old ladies in diapers, frisking 4 year olds, this is a typical
encore for an agency that is flat on it's a#% for what to do next.
These folks were in a training session, which is far removed from
being on duty to protect passengers. This reminds me of the
immigration agency that granted residency visas to some of the
911 terrorists, even after they were identified as having died
while committing the crime of the century.

[CaptainChristine]

Yay!Yay! TSA!
Dumber than a box of rocks, meaner than a junk yard dog.
The only thing they know to do right is play police.

[55minus5]

So... Zimmerman has a chance to be hired with them if he ever...?

[formerlyluvnut]

Termination was too severe under the circumstances imo. Too much of a stretch but, so it goes.

[jsf14]

Oh, for crying out loud. Can't the TSA use sense about anything? Has everything got to be distorted into some rule? Does no one in the agency have discretion? In much of the world, beer or wine with a meal is the healthy norm.

[audemus]

People in charge of our security when we fly getting their drank on....makes me tingle all over with feelings of warmth and safety.

[55minus5]

A friend of mine was flying home from Boston and had a bottle of vodka with him that he didn't manage to use in Boston. TSA confiscated it on the pretext that it was too much for him alone. Guess what happened to the bottle of vodka? Right. Share, my friend.

[jsf14]

the article is about air marshals, not the goons at the security checkpoint.

[55minus5]

jsf14, what's the difference? Same bunch, the hierarchy works up well.
Rogues all, from the top to the bottom.

[Henri_Rochard]

Getting rid of the TSA is about as likely as getting rid of toll roads in Illinois.

[55minus5]

Can't do that.

[jwilsonte5]

You are aware of study says republicians IQ half that of democrat. I was watching a republician senator read a statement other day for a 60 yr he could pronounce words typical rp. they have to be stupid to think like they do

[55minus5]

I don't object to what you say... but where are you?

[jwilsonte5]

They picked these tsa workers from worst no certifications with law exper. a few hrs instruction and hand then a badge and wonder why they have so many unprofessional workers TSA is a joke and lots have been cot stealing and these are people looking up childerns clothes patting people down makes no sence chance of TSA worker blowing up plane is far greater than a passanger!!

[jsf14]

The article says these were air marshals. Not the same as those goons at the security checkpoint.

[jgnv]

How many more incidents do we have to read about regarding unprofessional conduct by TSA employees before someone decides this organization needs to be replaced by an independent contractor? I realize the latest two incidents reported involved airports back east, but as a frequent flyer to Chicago, I've personally witnessed some VERY unprofessional, lazy and downright rude behavior by TSA agents at Chicago Midway. My guess is these latest infractions are not isolated incidents and should, thereby, require a thorough investigation regarding this agency.

[Nocults]

TSA is an independent contractor.

It's the profit motive at work vs. professionalism.

[retmw2]

And you think private contractors would be any better, when they would only pay minimum wage.

[VotePovertyVoteObama]

These are Liberals, what do you expect? Now you know why that 88% of high school drop outs are Liberals and 90% of the prison population are Liberals. I have an idea. Have Fascist Obama and racist Eric Holder sit down and drink a beer with them. LOL!!!!

[bobnjersey]

[Now you know why that 88% of high school drop outs are Liberals and 90% of the prison population are Liberals.]
--------------------------------------------
i'll bet the rat who turned on them wasn't a liberal.

[Nocults]

Jesus was a Liberal.