Warning Flying out of Orlando UPDATED SEE POST 31

[docusmc1]

I am a disabled Viet-Nam vet with full blown MS and use a power wheelchair, this evening fly out of MCO I was treated like a terriost(?). After going through the normal patdown while in my chair they swabed my Disney Crocs and put it the machine and it tripped a code. Instead of reswabing my crocs or taking them off my feet and run them through the scanner 5 TSA agents took me to a room and stronged armed me by removing me from my wheelchair phyiscaly and them making me strip of my mickey shorts and my Marine Corps polo shirt and Mickey socks. Leaving me there in the room naked. They then took my clothes and crocs and ran them through a scanner. Bought cloths and crocs back to the room and said I was cleared and free to go. I asked for my wife and they refused to get her to help me. Then the 5 agents roughly dressed me and put me back in my chair. I asked to see a supervisor and they refused. They said I fit the profile and with no other comment left. I am a Silver Star receipant and have 3 Purple Hearts.
So I guess I fly out of Tampa from now on.

 

[jodifla]

Sorry you went through this.

I'm sure the TSA apologists will be on here soon, endlessly defending them.

 

[bookwormde]

Please file a complaint since it appears they violated protocals (not allowing assistance for redressing and not contacting a supervisor)

Here is the liink

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/civilrights/filing_a_complaint.shtm

This is the only way the system gets better

bookwormde

 

[rastika]

First, Thank you for your service, sir.

Secondly, I am so offended for you! How terrible to be treated in such a way! This makes me very afraid for all people with disabilities who travel by air.

I'm not sure that I have any suggestions for you, but perhaps you and your wife can contact someone from the TSA now that you are home; to report the abuse that you experienced? I don't know how responsive they will be to you, but I feel like it still needs to be reported.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Please file a complaint since it appears they violated protocals (not allowing assistance for redressing and not contacting a supervisor)

Here is the liink

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/civilrights/filing_a_complaint.shtm

This is the only way the system gets better

bookwormde

Also, strip searching is not allowed!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Sorry it happened... and I'm not trying to pick on you but this is one of a few posts I've seen lately where someone has been treated unfairly, and hasn't caused a big enough fuss. Normally I'm one of the "let it go" people, but in this, and the other cases I've read, a fuss is absolutely called for. IMHO you should have demanded help, demanded that your wife be brought in, demanded to see a supervisor. I understand that you asked for it, but maybe they would have if you demanded it. You're within every right to demand a supervisor, to have equal treatment. As far as the screening and all that goes, sometimes yes, they find something and it may be totally innocent and it may seem excessive but it's there for a reason. Taking names and dates and badge numbers and all that kind of thing is all well and fine, but that's all easily glossed over and lost in emails and letters. If you hang around and stick to your guns, I think you can get a lot more accomplished.

 

[wintershawl]

I am a disabled Viet-Nam vet with full blown MS and use a power wheelchair, this evening fly out of MCO I was treated like a terriost(?). After going through the normal patdown while in my chair they swabed my Disney Crocs and put it the machine and it tripped a code. Instead of reswabing my crocs or taking them off my feet and run them through the scanner 5 TSA agents took me to a room and stronged armed me by removing me from my wheelchair phyiscaly and them making me strip of my mickey shorts and my Marine Corps polo shirt and Mickey socks. Leaving me there in the room naked. They then took my clothes and crocs and ran them through a scanner. Bought cloths and crocs back to the room and said I was cleared and free to go. I asked for my wife and they refused to get her to help me. Then the 5 agents roughly dressed me and put me back in my chair. I asked to see a supervisor and they refused. They said I fit the profile and with no other comment left. I am a Silver Star receipant and have 3 Purple Hearts.
So I guess I fly out of Tampa from now on.

This makes me sad, and I am sorry you had to go through this.

 

[mikkiwikki]

thank you for your service...People in this country need to realize freedom is NOT FREE.

SECONDLY and not to compare you to this person in any way, but I assume everyone read this recent news article..This poor lady was 95 and a cancer patient. I was just horrified for her as well.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/06/27/florida.tsa.incident/

http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/124624519.html?ref=519


Thirdly - reminds me of a famous quote.
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent ... " ~ Thomas Jefferson

Let us know what we can do to support you. seriously

This is wrong.

 

[SueM in MN]

Went out to get a link -
Besides complaining to the TSA, the ACLU is interested in complaints:
http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/tsa-pat-down-search-abuse

And a blog that has a lot of contact information for complaints:
http://sroblog.com/2010/11/23/all-the-ways-to-make-complaints-about-tsa-msnbc-com/

My DD has always been screened with care and respect, but I realize there are times when things are not done the way they should be and complaints should be made.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

We have not had the TSA go as far as they did with you in Orlando but flying out of PDX my husband always seems to get that one agent that is a J A -- jack --ok there is the J I am sure you can figure out the A word.

I am unable to help him - god forbid I enter area after being screened. I have a stupid idea -- screen me again. I do not help anymore. They want his shoes off -- they can take off and put them back on. They want skin thin jacket off well guess they can remove that to -- I watch and if they get rough I call a supervisor over and wow the funny how agents get gentler.

What they did was so wrong in so many ways. You owe it to the next passenger in similar condition to do what ever it takes to not let that happen to any one.

If they hate their job so much they rough handle passengers like that -- then get another job.

One more vent -- husband in electric wheel chair -- they somewaht look the chair over top back front sides but LOL they never look underneath. Guess that would mean getting down and looking.

Let me take a moment and also say there are so many nice TSA agents who are very gentle with husband, Kudos to them but the few roughnecks well -------

Please Please turn them in. That is the only way this will be looked at. Don't let them dismiss you --

With having earned a Silver Star I am sure you stand up for the other guy.

NO flames please -- just my thoughts

 

[Alison Wunderland]

Sir, thank you for your service. I really don't have anything relevant to add but I just wanted to let you know that that story brought tears to my eyes. Those TSA agents may not have cared but I do. I hope you follow through with a complaint. There is a difference between having to investigate because you might have set off a few red flags and using humiliation. I rarely wish someone to be fired because jobs are so hard to come by and often I overlook a lot and attribute it to the times we live in. However, these men deserve to be severely sanctioned/fired.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry you went through this.

I'm sure the TSA apologists will be on here soon, endlessly defending them.

Not me, this time. This is a first-hand report, not media-sensationalized. It's awful that the OP was mistreated. You all are right. He's got to report his horrific treatment through the proper channels.

The other incident posted in this thread is being discussed on the Transportation Board; I'm sure this board's Moderators wont mind if I direct that part of the conversation over there so we can focus this thread on docusmc1.

 

[aubriee]

Sorry you went through this.

I'm sure the TSA apologists will be on here soon, endlessly defending them.

No way this can be defended. I'm all for TSA doing their job, but this was not their job. They need to be reported. What happened to the OP is horrible and they shouldnt be allowed to get away with it.

 

[bidnow5]

So sorry this happened and thank you so much for your service. I wear an abdominal support that has metal stays so I always go to the room for a search. Never have they treated me anywhere near they way they treated you.

Please follow through with as many complaints as you can file with every department you can. The treatment you got cannot be allowed

 

[SueM in MN]

Not me, this time. This is a first-hand report, not media-sensationalized. It's awful that the OP was mistreated. You all are right. He's got to report his horrific treatment through the proper channels.

The other incident posted in this thread is being discussed on the Transportation Board; I'm sure this board's Moderators wont mind if I direct that part of the conversation over there so we can focus this thread on docusmc1.

I think that's a good idea.
That incident is already being discussed there.

This is different in 2 ways than previous discussions:
1) it is someone coming here to give a first hand report and ask what to do about it/ warn about his experience.

2) some of the other discussions have been on the order of "I'm going on a trip with my elderly disabled mother. How do I prepare her to be molested."
In that case, people are expecting the worst and scaring people with " what ifs".
The "what ifs" don't happen every day, and should not be treated as if they did. When they do happen, they need to be reported so they don't become daily occurrences.

 

[crashbb]

Not me, this time. This is a first-hand report, not media-sensationalized. It's awful that the OP was mistreated. You all are right. He's got to report his horrific treatment through the proper channels.

The other incident posted in this thread is being discussed on the Transportation Board; I'm sure this board's Moderators wont mind if I direct that part of the conversation over there so we can focus this thread on docusmc1.

Totally agree!

OP - I'm so sorry that that happened to you.

 

[hildarumpole]

If an American war hero in a wheelchair fits the TSA's profile of someone requiring enhanced screening, just who doesn't fit the profile? Good grief! The TSA is greatly undermining it's credibility with incidents like these and it's failure to respond properly. Every time something like this happens, their pat excuse seems to be that they were following proper procedures. There needs to be a complete overhaul in the manner in which airport security is executed. Some of the agents are on power trips. They know people are often worried about causing a scene that might lead them to miss their flight. There's a lack of consistency in how rules are applied throughout the system. There's no real accountability. Common sense isn't part of the equation at all. I'm all for making sure we're safe when flying, but this kind of nonsense isn't going to achieve that goal.

Thank you for your service, Sir. I hope you'll take the time to file a formal complaint and contact the ACLU. Complaining to the TSA probably won't do a fat lot of good, but it will help to show you went through proper channels should you decide to take the matter further.

 

[fitzpa]

If an American war hero in a wheelchair fits the TSA's profile of someone requiring enhanced screening, just who doesn't fit the profile? Good grief! The TSA is greatly undermining it's credibility with incidents like these and it's failure to respond properly. Every time something like this happens, their pat excuse seems to be that they were following proper procedures. There needs to be a complete overhaul in the manner in which airport security is executed. Some of the agents are on power trips. They know people are often worried about causing a scene that might lead them to miss their flight. There's a lack of consistency in how rules are applied throughout the system. There's no real accountability. Common sense isn't part of the equation at all. I'm all for making sure we're safe when flying, but this kind of nonsense isn't going to achieve that goal.

Thank you for your service, Sir. I hope you'll take the time to file a formal complaint and contact the ACLU. Complaining to the TSA probably won't do a fat lot of good, but it will help to show you went through proper channels should you decide to take the matter further.

Well said!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

First, Thank you for your service!

Next, I am one who usually takes the TSA side as most of the stories posted here are by people just out to pick on poeple just doing their job and figure they are better then anyone else and shouldn't be bothered to go though secuirty!

But this is so over the top and so plainly wrong!........ I strongly ask you do make a official complaint!

AKK

 

[kaytieeldr]

If an American war hero in a wheelchair fits the TSA's profile of someone requiring enhanced screening

I do want to point out that the TSA has no knowledge of any passenger's history, military or otherwise.

This all started because, for some (still!) unidentified reason, the OP's Crocs set off something in the testing that indicated further examination was needed. A reasonable person, the OP for example, would as he stated expect that to mean "of the shoes"! But nooooo. He was treated with a complete lack of dignity, and not in accordance with any TSA policies.

He's got to escalate this - but through the proper channels, i.e. not the media!