“I’m sure that if you are looking for it, you’ll see something”

Great news!  The Federal Air Marshal service is so sure that there are evil terrorists out there photographing our airplanes that their management is twisting arms to make sure the Marshals find them and report them.

That’s why several air marshals object to a July 2004 memo from top management in the Las Vegas office, a memo that reminded air marshals of the SDR requirement.  The body of the memo said, “Each federal air marshal is now expected to generate at least one SDR per month.”

“Does that memo read to you that Federal Air Marshal headquarters has set a quota on these reports?” Kovaleski asked. “Absolutely, no doubt,” an air marshal replied.

A second management memo, also dated July 2004, said, “There may come an occasion when you just don’t see anything out of the ordinary for a month at a time, but I’m sure that if you are looking for it, you’ll see something.”

Another federal air marshal said that not only is there a quota in Las Vegas for SDRs, but that “it directly reflects on (their) performance evaluations” and on how much money they make.

The director of the Air Marshal Service, Dana Brown, declined 7NEWS’ request for an interview on the quota system. But the agency points to a memo from August 2004 that said there is not a quota for submitting SDRs and which goes on to say, “I do not expect reports that are inaccurate or frivolous.”

But, Las Vegas-based air marshals say the quota system remains in force, now more than two years after managers sent the original memos, and that it’s a mandate from management that impacts annual raises, bonuses, awards and special assignments.

SDRs are Surveillance Detection Report, designed to identify folks whom the marhals feel may be scoping out an airplane for possible terrorist activity.  Getting an SDR on you can lead to being on a watch list, etc.  There are evidently so many such possible terrorists that management is insisting that at least one be reported each month, whether they’re a real threat or not.

Of course, if Air Marshals are being pressured into making up reports, it’s probably because anyone who’s a real terrorist is probably already aware of who they are and is quite intentionally not acting suspiciously.  A number of Air Marshals have come forward lately to protest procedures that make them something less that undercover operatives on a plane.

The number one concern is getting past the public security checkpoint. Pickard says he’s convinced people can pick out air marshals easily. Since 9-11, the Department of Homeland Security has never established a uniform procedure for getting around metal detectors. Air marshals all say they are forced to by-pass security through exit doors close to security checkpoints. A recent 20/20 undercover video shows two air marshals entering through the exit. When it comes to boarding planes, marshals say policies require
them to pre-board, and they stand out.   “It doesn’t leave much to the imagination to figure out who I am,” one agent said.

What’s more, marshals say they are frequently asked to identify themselves to crew members and gate agents who blow their cover in front of hundreds of passengers. They also say passengers can’t help but notice two well-dressed passengers sitting in aisle seats up front.  

“The procedures that we are required to follow right now make us stick out like sitting ducks,” said another marshal who requested his identity be protected. Air Marshals we talked to say they’ve begged the agency to relax the strict dress code of dress shoes, slacks and collared shirts, especially when other passengers are dressed down for vacation.

These are key issues repeatedly brought to the attention of Air Marshal Service Directors Thomas Quinn and Dana Brown since 2002. They are concerns also echoed in a report released by the House Judiciary Committee report two months ago which determined “it is unacceptable for… management to be oblivious to the problems facing their organization.”

 Fly the friendly skies!