Monday, February 20, 2006

This should be the end

So I got a letter from the head of security prairie division and I think this should end it. Unless you crazy bunch of Brauns want me to do more. Short of following Travs advice, I don't think there is much we can do. Anyways here is the letter.

Mr. Braun;

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) plays an integral role in the Government of Canada’s air security initiative. CATSA’s mission is to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system, including the screening of passengers and their belongings. Its mandate is to deliver a consistent, effective and highly professional service that is set at or above the standards established by federal regulations.

While security is CATSA’s top priority, please be assured that customer service is one of its main priorities in the delivery of security screening for air travel. Screening officers are trained to ensure that passengers are treated with respect and dignity at all times, while ensuring their comfort and safety. I regret that the experience that your parents had with pre-board screening at the Edmonton airport was unpleasant.

I have concluded my investigation of the incident. You should know that the younger of the two officers involved is no longer employed within the Security Screening Operation in Edmonton. I did have a lengthy discussion with the gentlemen who assisted in the incident your parents experienced in Edmonton. Being unable to interview the younger of the two Screening Officers I am unable to come to any conclusion with respect of his attitude or demeanor in this particular case. The Screening Officer I did interview did have some recollection of the events. He did indicate that they did try to unfold your father’s walker in order to put it through the x ray and when they could not, they performed a physical search of the item. With respect of the cane, it did go through the x ray and showed a metal rod through the centre of the cane. One of the items discovered at Screening Points in the past is a cane with a Chinese Martial Arts sword disguised in the cane. Common sense would indicate that your father might be an unlikely candidate and if it could not be revealed right away that it probably was not “infamous” cane. CATSA Standard Operating Procedures does require that these items be searched but we also advocate an awareness of the passengers that carry these items. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the way this situation was handled and extend the same to your parents.

I appreciate you bringing these concerns forward as it identifies an area that we need to handle much better the next time.

Yours very truly,

Rod Gore
Service Manager, Edmonton & North Region
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
PO Box 9808, Suite 03-025, Mezzanine Level
Edmonton International Airport
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J-2T2

4 Comments:

Blogger Margaret said...

I guess since the magot is no longer working for them we'll have to accept their apology and let the dust settle. Thanks for doing all this for the family, John.

8:49 AM  
Blogger Trav said...

it would have been nicer if the little puke got canned, but oh well

11:15 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

*shrug* It's awful what's happened... but I don't really know what else you could do... The letter sounds apologetic, but at the same time, dismissive, in that he wants to, for lack of nicer words, "be done" with you... That's awesome of you that you looked in to it for Grandma and Grandpa and all of us... *hug* You ROCK, Uncle John!!

11:23 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

Sounds typical of something Rod Gore would right, on behalf of CATSA.

Since the offender is no longer working for them, I guess that's a good thing, but unfortunate that it took them that long to speak to the second officer, who only had minor recollections of the incident especially with the amount of passengers that flow throught the Edmonton International airport.

11:31 AM  

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