Exclusive: TSA Workers Caught Using Drugs?

(CBS)  The Transportation Security Administration, already suffering from embarrassment after a man walked into a terminal unchecked at Newark's airport, now face allegations that its employees at Los Angeles International Airport were caught on tape using drugs, CBS affiliate KCAL reports.

The investigation began late last year when a TSA Agent was arrested for allegedly counterfeiting parking passes at the employee parking lot. In his house, police found a videotape. On it was an after hours party where other TSA agents were allegedly using drugs, reports KCAL's David Goldstein.

TSA sources say the tape was turned over to investigators. Each employee identified was ordered to take a drug test. TSA won't say how many, but each one who failed was fired, Goldstein reports.

Click here to read the full KCAL report.

Larry Fetters, the Federal Security Director at LAX says, "We don't tolerate drugs. We don't tolerate narcotics." He wouldn't talk specifics, but said the agency has random drug testing, and claims the employees would have been caught even without the video.

None of the employees was charged with any crimes. Even the TSA agent caught counterfeiting parking passes wasn't prosecuted because no one he sold to would come forward, notes Goldstein.

The incident was kept quiet from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "This is the first I've heard about it," the mayor told Goldstein.

Last week, TSA officials came under fire for allowing an unidentified man skirt security checkpoints at Newark Liberty International Airport, causing a terminal to shut down for several hours. The man was never found and it was revealed Tuesday that the terminal's surveillance camera didn't record the incident.

Click below to watch KCAL's David Goldstein press LAX's head of security on how TSA employees were caught using drugs:

Local Video from CBS 2 / KCAL 9 in Los Angeles

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[phlogiston1]

The TSA employees are bottom of the barrel folks trying to make a living. This country can't afford to employ intelligent, educated, and well-trained people for the job, and also maintain a sense of continuous alert. So much of the attempt at "scrrening" merely results in terrorists resorting to other measures.

And so long as we don't have profiling in the armamentarium of the screeners, and so long as Congress doesn't pass laws that criminalize behavior such as that of the "Flying Imams," and not only exempt the airlines but passengers from liability but provide for their defense costs, then we compromise our ability to interdict terror attacks.

Maybe there should be "Muslim Only" aircraft transport so that they blow only themselves and "their kind" up.

Christians have hymns such as, "What a friend we have in Jesus all our griefs and sins to bear," while Islamics inspired by Allah strive to murder their fellow men (and also target women and children). Nature's noblemen, who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect?

[QueensNYC]

"screening" not "scrrening"

[sandstoner]

displeased, it appears your logic is a little flawed also.. there is no such thing as a recovered alcoholic as an alcoholic even after many years of not having a drink is still an alcoholic

[kamsack50]

This report is so stupid!
They were doing "drugs"(?) after hours. AFTER hours, people. Like any normal Americans. Look, you see baggage screeners at the airport. Do they look special to you? They're just like anybody else.

[earthling76]

by GTR5 January 6, 2010 10:13 AM EST
If they were unionized it would be impossible to fire these employees.

That is not true at all. I know unions now pre-screen their members prior to initiation, randomly during the entire apprenticeship process, and upon arrival on job sites. Members that fail drug tests are dismissed and must face a board of appeals. At that point the union will decide whether or not the member in question should enter into a rehabilitation program or be expelled from membership completely. If the member in question fails a second time he or she will have their membership terminated permanently. You are obviously unfamiliar with unions and their policies.

[dronemonk]

This story is garbage propaganda unless it includes what drug the off duty workers were allegedly using. Were they smoking pot? Crack cocaine? Shooting heroin? Licking toads? What?

Actually, the whole thing reeks of the great efforts our press is taking to convince the people that institutionalized paranoia is a good and productive thing.

[jackp32]

Gee! I feel so much safer now that TSA has fired those dope heads.

[whtlghtnng78]

I'm curious to what drug? When,Where

To many ignorant comments here to respond to.

[raydernation]

I'm with you on that one. I'm also like you wondering what the drug was? Wondering was it beer, or some other liquor which are classified as drugs as well. Which measn they're sold over the counter every day 24/7 in America just like cigarettes. So much ignorance out there, I saw this documentary, and they were saying take all the wars fought in the history of the World add up all the people killed in those wars, and it wouldn't come close to the number of people who die each year due to acohol and cigaretter related illnesses. Incredible!

[jankebenzone]

Maybe after a fatal plane crash because some druggie ground crew member forgets something critical , then will the public finally realize how idiotic the idea of legalizing narcotics is.

[earthling76]

You assume too much. If drug prohibition policies were abolished in favor of a system of real regulation it does not mean everyone will start using drugs or that conditions for employment for certain jobs would change. Thats like assuming that it would be okay to get drunk on the job because its legal to purchase and consume alcohol. If these employees break rules that are previously determined conditions of their employment then they should be dealt with accordingly.

[stinger1z]

This is what you get when you hire Ray-Ray and Shenae-nae to do critical work. I know the job isn't fun but you have to realize the responisibility. Not just get mad with a little power over the ability to search people's luggage.

[raydernation]

What an ignorant statement. You just threw a blanket over all the Black ones, lets just cut to the chase.

[snowball77]

Funny they don't mention the specifics of the drugs. Alchohol is a drug. Were they shooting up, snorting lines or maybe a bong hit. Funny all the screening in the world to hand pick these adgents and they wind up using some drug? So much for the drug war and its effectiviness. In mexico they have guards open all your lugange and give the contents a pat down. Like that would be effective verses an attacker. Just a matter of time before another attack espeically entering the US from another foreign country. I felt sorry for the Mexican security, they had to run their hands inside the bags and I am sure there is the occational sharp item. I heard the underwear bomber was travelling on a outdated VISA, should never had been put on the plane in the first place. Just chaulk it up to security adgents.