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80 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, July 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 23, 2004 Feds fault airport security Medford field put on probation after two naps and a theft By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Federal Transportation Security Administration officials have placed the Medford airport on a probationary status after the recent firing of two security employees who slept on the job and of a third who was arrested for the theft of a laptop computer. There was also a security lapse last weekend while passengers were boarding a plane. "They told us, ‘Watch it,’ " said airport director Bern Case. "If we screw up, they can fine us." Case said two night shift employees were caught napping during the past six months by other airport workers, and the incidents were confirmed by surveillance tapes. "We have terminated two people for sleeping on the job," he said. With fines for security breaches at some airports amounting to as much as $250,000, Case said the airport notified TSA officials immediately about the problem. "We didn’t try to sweep it under the table," he said. Advertisement Another security employee, Andrew Cameron Welburn, 37, of Medford, faces a felony charge of first-degree theft for allegedly taking a laptop computer from the lost and found, where it was stored after a passenger misplaced it. The arrest last week came after a monthlong investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department implicated Welburn, who has been fired. These terminations add to a 69 percent turnover rate since January; 11 of the 16 security personnel who work for the county for a minimum $7.91 an hour have left. The security staff is not part of other personnel under the jurisdiction of TSA or the sheriff’s department, which also provides security. TSA officials say they are concerned about a security lapse last weekend in which a passenger reportedly walked out of the line heading for a plane, went over to the fence and may have been handed something from the other side. Case said most of the workers, who get about 80 hours’ training for the job and undergo background checks, have the skills needed to provide adequate security — some are even retired law enforcement officers. Case acknowledged the pay is not high, but said the benefits package offered by the county is substantial, amounting to about $800 a month per employee. He said it is difficult for the airport to pay more because it runs a tight budget and also because of the potential for public reaction. "The county gets criticized for overpaying, and then we get criticized for underpaying," he said. He referred to these security positions as stepping-stone jobs, noting that his own career began with a similar job in 1978. Some of the security staff have left to take jobs with TSA. Airport and county officials do plan, by late summer or early fall, to look into whether the pay scale is adequate. Jennifer Marty, a TSA spokeswoman, said the airport could have been fined, but TSA decided it would be better to let local officials take steps to make sure people don’t sleep on the job. "We have given them a chance," she said. "If you want to call it a probationary status, then you could." She said TSA has had problems with baggage screeners falling asleep at other airports, but the problem was resolved when their chairs were taken away, forcing them to stand through their shifts. Concerning the passenger who walked away from the boarding line in Medford, Marty said that if TSA had been made aware of the incident, all passengers would have been taken off the plane and forced to go through the entire screening process again. While there are surveillance cameras in that area, TSA couldn’t determine who the passenger was or whether the person was handed something over the fence. Airline officials are charged with the responsibility of making sure passengers remain in line while they are walking toward a plane, Marty said. "This has been an ongoing issue that we’re trying to keep on top of," she said. TSA has its own problems keeping employees, who are paid $12.75 an hour. Marty said with a turnover rate of 15 to 18 percent nationally, the rate at the Medford airport appears to be somewhat lower. "It’s a really stressful job, very physical," she said. "It’s not an easy job. We have one of the highest turnover rates for a federal agency." Jackson County Commissioner Jack Walker said he wants to find another way to handle security other than hiring low-paid workers. "The turnover rate is huge," Walker said. "Their qualifications aren’t good enough." Walker said more highly skilled security personnel would be better suited to patrol the grounds, including the parking lots and passenger unloading areas. "One of my concerns is safety around the perimeter of the airport," he said. "There is no way in the world to stop somebody from getting in." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times