DATE: January 31, 2020
TO: All TSA Personnel LGA, HPN, ISP, SWF
FROM: Federal Security Director Robert Duffy
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
I want to begin this memo by updating the information I sent to you last night regarding the coronavirus as promised. Today, we received the necessary information for ordering and billing the TSA approved surgical masks. We are now in the process of procuring the masks. Upon receipt of the masks, we will immediately distribute them to all four of our airports for use by our officers. Please be advised that the wearing of surgical masks is approved but is not mandated. The wearing of surgical masks is strictly voluntary. Anyone wanting to wear a surgical mask must take a Read and Sign training course before wearing a surgical mask. The training is to ensure proper use and wearing of the masks. If you want to purchase your own surgical mask rather than wait for the TSA order to arrive, you may do so. Be advised that the TSA will not reimburse you for the cost of any self-supplied masks, but you must still take the required Read and Sign training before wearing a mask at a checkpoint. Earlier today, TSA Administrator David Pekoske issued a coronavirus update. In that memo the Administrator provides practical advice to control exposure to infections such as coronavirus, and I encourage you to review the memo and follow the guidance.
This week I talked to a number of you at LGA in Terminals A and B. Some of you are still facing the frustration of arriving at LGA and encountering traffic problems when entering the airport. We have discussed this ongoing challenge with the PAPD. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done as the roads at LGA are still under construction as are the terminals. We expect to have about 70% of the road work completed this year. In the meantime, I have authorized the continued use of our Managers granting a “grace” period of up to 14 minutes at the start of a shift at LGA due to the difficulty in entering the airport. This grace period practice will continue indefinitely as we do not have a completion date established for the road construction.
Over the past few weeks we have seen some excellent results at all of our airports with regard to covert testing. At ISP STSO Kristine Brundage, TSO Cari Beckerman, TSO Gregory Bodkin, TSO Jeffrey Berlino, STSO Robert Griffin, LTSO Conwood Seymore and STSO Christine Lindemann all successfully passed FET tests on January 24. At HPN TSO Zerina Cortes, STSO Patricia Sims, TSO Jessica Ivanoff and STSO Andres Senquiz all passed FET testing on January 22. Additionally, STSO Rosalina Schraud, TSO Mike Prial, TSO Aleta King and TSO Lionel Manton passed FET tests at HPN on January 14. At LGA TSO Michael Digiovanni passed an OSARP FET test on January 23, TSO Phillip Johnson two times on x-ray, TSO Frank Powers, LTSO Walter Biggett, TSO Gustavo Padilla, TSO Xavier Cuvi, STSO Naomi Gardner, TSO Claude Mary Jr., STSO Pavel Cruz, TSO Janet Ortiz two times on x-ray, STSO Monique James, TSO Gina Rouse, STSO Carl Miller, TSO Eduard Arteni and STSO Yvonne Durrant all passed FET tests on January 8. LGA personnel also distinguished themselves in recent Red Team testing. In Terminal A, STSO Jill Pivarnick, TSO Christine Brown, TSO Pat Calderella and TSS-E Brian Hearn all combined their efforts to pass an inorganic mass requiring colorimetric testing. In Terminal B, STSO Trevian Morris, LTSO Anita Shivprasad and TSO Ada Marotto worked well as a team to resolve a back brace alarm successfully. In every one of these covert tests, good teamwork and communication was the key to success. We can show statistically that when we resolve alarms with two or more officers, we pass the covert tests almost 100% of the time. When individual officers make decisions on their own, we experience failures a majority of the time. The point here is clearly to work together as a team to resolve alarms. Call your LTSO, STSO or another TSO to assist. Don’t worry about wait times, focus on determining the cause of the alarm, not finding a way to clear the passenger. Understand the difference.
Earlier today I had the pleasure of presenting customer service awards to a number of LGA officers who were recognized for superior customer service by the PANYNJ. The following officers were awarded certificates: Eduardo Diaz, Terrance Brown, Atiba Jeffers, Michael Harris, Katherine Danner, Shernet Stone, Robert Caprio-Mercado, Alicia Lewis, Armaan Khawaja and Keith Harris Manuel.
Congratulations to all of our award winners, Red Team pin winners and those who passed our FET tests. I am proud of you for your accomplishments, teamwork and professionalism. Keep up the good work. I want to address the customer service awards, because the awards are new from the PANYNJ and the officers who were recognized unknowingly were interacting with a PANYNJ “mystery shopper” who acted as a passenger at our checkpoints. Our officers were recognized for their courtesy, professionalism and respect they showed to the passengers while carrying out their screening responsibilities. In essence, they were caught doing a great job. The true definition of good character is doing what is right when do one is watching, and we certainly had our officers living up to that standard. Thank you for a job well done.
We have started new classes this month at LGA and SWF and graduated a class at LGA. It is worth reminding all of you know what I tell the new classes both when they start and when they graduate. I expect three things from all of you.
I also remind the graduating classes to remember their first day in the TSA. None of us knew anyone else or where anything was. Other people took the time to help us get to where we are, and we all have an obligation to always help others in return. Lastly, I always point out the importance of the oath of office that we all took when we joined the TSA. That oath was not to any person but rather to a piece of paper, the Constitution of the United States; the founding document that created the foundation of this country in which we are all so privileged to live. To all of you, continue to learn and never stop asking questions.
Administrator Pekoske has placed such a value in education that the TSA will re-start the tuition reimbursement program that was unfunded for the past several years. For this year it has limited funding, so those who will be eligible when it becomes available in the late winter or early spring, will be those people who have completed the Associate’s Degree program, the RLDP or MLDP programs. More information will come out as we get closer to the start of the program.
Lastly, I want to remind all of our leaders from LTSOs to DFSD McKeon to take good care of the people in your charge. Look out for your people, provide your personnel with what they need to be successful and to look forward to coming to work and serve every day. Set a good example for your men and women every day and always place those in your charge first above your own self interests. Be humble and keep your ego in check. Keep your emotions under control when making important decisions. Stand up for, and do, what is inherently right, not what is popular. You are a leader, lead responsibly.
As a leader you need to remember that the men and women in your charge are watching you every day and focus on three things; your character, virtue and honor. Don’t let them down.
Thank you all for your continued devotion to the TSA mission. It is my privilege to serve you.
Regards,
Bob Duffy
