TO: All Personnel: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
FROM: Robert A. Duffy, Federal Security Director: LGA, ISP, HPN, SWF
SUBJECT: Weekly Update
I hope this Weekly Update finds you and your families in good health. For those who have contracted the Corona Virus, best wishes for a quick recovery. I have been there and appreciate what you are going through. Please continue to wear all of your PPE and take the same precautions when away from work. We all need to protect ourselves, our families, friends and co-workers. We are all in this together and need to take care of each other.
This week, we will have the Acting DHS Secretary, Chad Wolf, visit LGA on Thursday afternoon. A number of you will have the opportunity to meet him when he visits Terminal B with an interest in our responsibilities and the new equipment we are using. Secretary Wolf will also take the time to address our personnel.
This week at LGA we are having two CT units being installed in Terminal B and Terminal C, Lane 4. ISP received the CT technology last month, and have been complimentary of the new equipment. The CAT training at ISP and HPN is going well, and as with the CT technology, our officers appreciate the capabilities of the CAT units and how they improve our detection. Our ATLAS teams at all four airports are doing well and continue to provide their important service in furtherance to the TSA mission daily as we deter the insider threat. It is important to note that HPN continues to help LGA ATLAS teams and SWF officers work at HPN to maintain coverage. Thank you all for your exceptional teamwork.
We recently went through a OSHE safety inspection at ISP, HPN and SWF. The results were excellent and I want to say a big thank you to Roxana Rosario and all of our Collateral Duty Safety Officers (CDSO) for a job well done. While on the subject of safety and health, please remember that the alcohol we have at the checkpoints is for cleaning the screening equipment and work areas to keep them disinfected. The alcohol is not to be used for hand cleaning. Please use the hand sanitizer for cleaning your hands.
While talking to many of you at LGA, I was asked about the recent removal of one Weather and Safety Day during each pay period. At LGA, this was necessary to meet our staffing obligations, training and ATLAS requirements. We have cancelled all W&S days during Thanksgiving week and the Christmas – New Year’s Day time frame as we expect passenger volume to increase. All of our airports will have plenty of staffing for the holidays. We will also cancel training during the Thanksgiving and Christmas peak periods so we have the maximum number of officers available to keep our airports safe and secure.
The pilot programs in Terminal B are still in the preparation stage. The remote resolution room for all x-ray operators should be ready to go operational in January. The Ultra-Violet lighting in Terminal B Lanes 10 and 11 should start in December along with the anti-microbial bins on Lane 12.
Another concern that was brought to my attention was the rumor that TSA personnel will not be allowed to park in the Terminal C garage. I asked PANYNJ-LGA General Manager Tony Vero about this concern. Tony assured me that is not going to happen.
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Veteran’s Day tomorrow. This important day gives us all reason to say thank you to all of our military veterans for your service to maintain our freedom and liberty. From the brave patriots who faced the strongest military force in the world on the morning of April 15, 1775 in Lexington and Concord at the start of the Revolutionary War, to the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish/American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq as well as many shorter term conflicts, our Nation has been protected and inspired by our military veterans. Many nations around the world owe their freedom to our military veterans. Your service has freed millions of people and given hope countless more people. You have projected American power around the world to deter evil forces, and saved lives through humanitarian efforts. You all represent the very best of America.
As a tribute to our veterans this year, we have asked LaGuardia Gateway Partners to allow us to post photos of our TSA personnel, who are military veterans, in both their TSA uniform and military uniform, on the giant video board in the sterile area of the Terminal B checkpoint next to the escalator. When DHS Secretary Wolf visits LGA on Thursday, we will have him recognize a number of our veterans during a town hall meeting. Thank you to all of our veterans for your service. We are proud of you.
Lastly, in the spirit of Veteran’s Day, I want to wish all of our Marines a very Happy 245th Birthday today. The US Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775 in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA. Semper Fidelis and enjoy your day.
Thank you all for your incredible dedication to protecting our beloved Nation by continuing to protect and defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
With great respect,
Bob Duffy
