TSA Supervisor At Charlotte Douglas Fired Over Theft Allegations

Jan. 16, 2014
Transportation Security Administration has fired a supervisor at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after allegations of theft

Jan. 15--The Transportation Security Administration has fired a supervisor at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after allegations of theft, the federal agency said Wednesday.

"TSA has zero tolerance for theft," spokeswoman Sari Koshetz said via email. "The employee has been terminated." The investigation is ongoing, Koshetz said.

The supervisor had not been arrested as of midday, according to public records. Airport spokeswoman Lee Davis directed questions to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

Two people with knowledge of the incident told the Observer that the supervisor was accused of taking electronic items from the lost-and-found at Charlotte Douglas.

Rooting out theft by TSA employees has been a focus of TSA administrator John Pistole. In Charlotte last year, he told the Observer it was one of his priorities. He said the TSA was conducting random "integrity checks" of employees by leaving valuables at checkpoints and seeing if they were turned in.

"If one person steals, it gives the entire agency a black eye," Pistole said.

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