While passing through the dehumanizing maw of a TSA screening checkpoint at JFK airport recently, we overheard one TSA worker say to the other, "I've been stuck in this fu*king hellhole for eight fu*king years." Our faith in the TSA's renowned professionalism was instantly shattered—and our ear hairs badly singed by the profanity—but perhaps we're just lucky we didn't get a cup of scalding coffee thrown in our faces. Such was the fate endured by Steven Trivett, an off-duty TSA officer (and armed pilot) who confronted some foul-mouthed TSA screeners at JFK airport at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. on March 28th.
Port Authority sources tell the Post that Trivett, of Butler, Tennessee was exiting Terminal 8 when he overheard a group of TSA screeners chatting with the utmost vulgarity. Trivett, ever the Southern Gentleman, informed the individuals that they really ought to "conduct themselves more professionally in uniform and not use profanity or the n-word." For his trouble, he was told to mind is own bleeping business, which is when he identified himself as a "TSA officer."
Trivett then tried to grab the ID tags belonging to screener Lateisha El, 30, so as to report her crass behavior to her superior. But El, an East New York resident, was not having it, and police say she shoved Trivett and then threw a full cup of hot coffee all over him. Oh El, no! Luckily for him, Trivett was not hurt, but El was arrested on harassment and misdemeanor-assault charges. At press time it was unclear if she still has a job at the hellhole.
TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tells us, "TSA holds our employees to the highest professional standards and has a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior at airport checkpoints. TSA is looking into this incident and will take swift and appropriate action. The unacceptable behavior of a few individuals in no way reflects the dedication of our nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Officers who work tirelessly to keep our skies safe. As you are aware, a TSA officer at that very same airport this week detected an artfully concealed knife hidden inside a jar of mayonnaise that a passenger was trying to sneak on board an aircraft. That is much more reflective of the type of dedicated work our officers perform regularly." Mayonnaise: Never forget!
