There is no one silver bullet approach to overall airport security. This is why the Transportation Security Administration utilizes a risk-based, intelligence-driven layered approach to security, using everything from passenger information to technology and importantly, behavior-detection techniques.
Looking for suspicious behavior is simply common sense. Law enforcement does it every day in communities across the country and around the world.
Using these same techniques, TSA behavior-detection officers engage in casual conversations with travelers while looking and listening for behavioral cues such as facial expressions, body language or other behavior that may indicate a security risk. If signs are found, officers may ask for follow-up conversation with the passenger and perhaps more thorough screening.
This approach is working. In the past month alone, TSA officers trained to pick up on behavioral cues saved a beaten and kidnapped woman from her kidnappers in Miami and came to the rescue of a man having a heart attack in Boston.
Our behavior-detection program is a critical part of our approach to securing travel, but profiling passengers on any basis is simply not tolerated. Profiling is not only discriminatory, but it is an ineffective way to identify someone intent on doing harm. Officers are trained and audited to look for observable behaviors and behaviors alone. We are also enhancing this training to ensure maximum effectiveness.
While deterrence is an important outcome of TSA's security protocols and initiatives, it is also difficult to measure. But when security measures deter a would-be terrorist from attempting to carry out a planned attack, we have succeeded.
The behavior-detection program is an internationally proven way to observe possible threats. We are committed to making sure this program is effective and is being implemented appropriately. In this country, threats are real and the stakes are high. Let's continue working together to protect our transportation system and the traveling public.
John S. Pistole is the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
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