declared firearm stolen at airport

**HudsonHawk** · 05-02-09, 01:51 PM

NY1 | 24 Hour Local News | Law Enforcement | JFK Airport Employee Charged With Stealing Police Gun

JFK Airport Employee Charged With Stealing Police Gun
By: NY1 News

A baggage handler at JFK Airport is charged with stealing a gun from an NYPD sergeant's suitcase.

Tamarcus Hines, 21, faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon, grand larceny and criminal mischief.

Prosecutors say Hines, who works for JetBlue, was handling baggage at Terminal 5 on April 22 when he broke into the police officer's suitcase and took the 9 mm gun from a locked box, along with ammunition and a gun holster.

The sergeant told police her gun was missing after arriving in Orlando, Fla.

Police later recovered the gun from a Queens sewer.

If convicted, Hines faces up to 15 years in prison.

**JeffW** · 05-02-09, 02:34 PM

All the more reason to allow active officers to carry their weapons on the plane.

**Morris** · 05-02-09, 05:59 PM

In the Seattle area, it's widely known that Menzies, the contractor who loads and unloads verious birds at SeaTac, has hired bangers and felons. Lots of stuff has been stolen over the years by them. Glad they recovered the gun but I'm not surprised.

**Radar** · 05-02-09, 06:56 PM

That settles it, i'm not flying, even if I can't find someone to carpool with to DC for police week, i'm still driving there.

**GASheepdog** · 05-02-09, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by JeffW

All the more reason to allow active officers to carry their weapons on the plane.

+1. I'd gladly take whatever training they think I need and pay for it myself to be able to do what they allow feds and pilots to do. Wasn't the logic of H.R. 218 to be able to allow us to respond in the interest of public safety regardless of where we are in the U.S.? Why not extend that to airplanes for all LEOs who are willing to obtain the training?

**Xiphos** · 05-02-09, 07:22 PM

It's insane the airlines won't let us carry on board after 9-11. The excuse before was that we had no "jurisdiction" or right to carry upon landing. Since 218 now we can carry. Stupid regulation.

**jmur5074** · 05-03-09, 01:33 AM

So, is it the feds the prohibit us from carrying on flights, or the individual airlines?

**MacLean** · 05-03-09, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Morris

In the Seattle area, it's widely known that Menzies, the contractor who loads and unloads verious birds at SeaTac, has hired bangers and felons. Lots of stuff has been stolen over the years by them. Glad they recovered the gun but I'm not surprised.

Too bad really, the Menzies family is a class act. One of their kids went to NAPS with my little brother.

**KaiGywer** · 05-03-09, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by jmur5074

So, is it the feds the prohibit us from carrying on flights, or the individual airlines?

Feds.

**MacLean** · 05-03-09, 03:47 PM

Technically, you can fly armed - you just have to jump through the required hoops.

**Xiphos** · 05-03-09, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Technically, you can fly armed - you just have to jump through the required hoops.

Most agencies won't authorize it for your personal vacation.

**JeffW** · 05-03-09, 05:51 PM

My wife retired from an airline so we usually fly free or either reduced of free passes. Now here is the kicker. Using FEDERAL credentials, her old airline will not let me fly. They say that since I am flying free, there is no reason for me to have a gun. I must buy a ticket to be armed on my vacation. Go figure.

**TXCharlie** · 05-03-09, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Morris

In the Seattle area, it's widely known that Menzies, the contractor who loads and unloads verious birds at SeaTac, has hired bangers and felons. Lots of stuff has been stolen over the years by them. Glad they recovered the gun but I'm not surprised.

Suddenly hiring illegal aliens doesn't seem so bad.

**TXCharlie** · 05-03-09, 06:51 PM

Here's some FAQ's that someone emailed to me a few months ago - Keep in mind, this is not the complete document. The complete doctment is 12 pages long

state and local leos flying armed frequently asked questions

What are the requirements for a State or local Law Enforcement Officer to fly armed?

The Requirements for a LEO to fly armed aboard commercial aircraft are outlined in 49 CFR § 1544.219 Carriage of Accessible Weapons. The complete text of this section can be found on-line at the Government Printing Office web site at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/.
Unless otherwise authorized by TSA, to fly armed a LEO must;
· Be a Federal law enforcement officer or a full-time municipal, county, or state law enforcement officer who is a direct employee of a government agency.
· Be sworn and commissioned to enforce criminal statutes or immigration statutes.
· Be authorized by the employing agency to have the weapon in connection with assigned duties.
· Completed the training program “Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed.”

What are the procedures for a State or local Law Enforcement Officer to fly armed?

1. Have the operational need to fly armed.
2. The LEO’s employing agency transmits a properly formatted message, via Nlets, to ORI VAFAM0199.
3. An Nlets receipt, with Unique Alphanumeric Identifier, is transmitted from the Transportation Security Operations Center (TSOC) to the LEO’s employing agency.
4. On the day of travel the LEO checks-in with the airline ticket counter, identifies his/herself and presents the Original Letter of Authority from his/her Chief or Agency Head. The LEO fills out the armed traveler paperwork provided by the airline and proceeds to the Armed LEO Screening Checkpoint.
5. At the Armed LEO Screening Checkpoint the LEO provides the Unique Alphanumeric Identifier from the Nlets message and displays his/her badge, credentials, boarding pass, a second form of government identification, and required airline paperwork, commonly referred to as Person Carrying Firearms (PCFA) forms.
6. The LEO will complete the LEO Logbook and proceed to his/her boarding gate.
7. At the boarding gate the LEO will provide the airlines armed traveler paperwork and inform the gate agent of his/her presence and status.
8. The LEO then meets with the Pilot in Command, Federal Air Marshals, Federal Flight Deck Officers, and/or other Law Enforcement Officers onboard the flight as directed.

When should the Nlets message regarding armed State or local LEO travel be submitted?

It is recommended that agencies transmit the Nlets message a minimum of 24 hours prior to travel to ensure routing of the information prior to day of travel.

What if a LEO has not submitted an Nlets message but does have the Original Letter of Authority from his Chief or Agency Head?

The designated LEO checkpoint personnel will ask the LEO to contact his/her employing agency and have an immediate Nlets request transmitted to ORI VAFAM0199. If the Nlets message Unique Alphanumeric Identifier cannot be provided, additional verification steps will be required which may cause delays.

After the period of transition, use of the Nlets message will become mandatory.

What happens if a LEO advises that his/her employing agency sent an Nlets message but does not know the Unique Alphanumeric Identifier?

The LEO will be asked to contact his/her employing agency to obtain the Unique Alphanumeric Identifier.

If unable to contact his/her employing agency, verification using the Original Letter of Authority is authorized during the transition period; however, a delay may occur due to the additional verification steps.

After the transition period the Original Letter of Authority will no longer be accepted.

What happens if a LEO has the Nlets alphanumeric ID number without a signed letter of authority from his/her chief?

During the transition period the Original Letter of Authority remains a regulatory requirement and will be required at check-in by the air carrier.

Does the Nlets message replace the requirement to notify the Air Carrier of the LEO’s intent to fly armed or complete the required paperwork?

No. LEOs with an operational need to travel armed must present acceptable credentials as outlined in 49 CFR § 1544.219 to the Air Carrier. In addition, LEO’s must present an Original Letter of Authority and complete any required airline paperwork, commonly referred to as Person Carrying Firearm forms (PCFA).
What is the three letter airport code that is required in the Nlets message and where can I find these codes?

The airport code is a three letter designator for a commercial airport. These are the codes that airlines and pilots use to identify airports and are used in timetables, baggage tags, tickets, advertisements, airline and global reservation systems. There are approximately 9000 codes currently in use.

The three letter airport code can be found on the airlines website, on travel itineraries, or by searching the internet.

The below link will redirect you to the Federal Aviation Administration’s page where searches for three letter airport codes can be made.
http://www.faa.gov/library/glossaries/
What if a LEO experiences an unexpected itinerary change (weather, delays, re-routing)?
If the change(s) do not affect the Date of Travel, the existing Nlets message will be accepted as long as the LEO is traveling through the same airports.
If the Date of Travel or airport information changes, a new Nlets message will be required.
What information should be entered into the EIT (Escorted Individual Type), EIN (Escorted Individual Name), or CAP (Connecting Airport) fields if a LEO is not escorting a dignitary/transporting a prisoner or traveling through a connecting airport?
The EIT, EIN and CAP fields, if not applicable, may be omitted from the message.

**MacLean** · 05-03-09, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Xiphos

Most agencies won't authorize it for your personal vacation.

Well true, but it does happen.

**IMachU** · 05-04-09, 12:57 AM

Jeebus that's a lot of hoops to jump thru.

**Morris** · 05-04-09, 02:10 AM

Menzies is no friend of our family. Brother-in-law was forced to early retirement when Alaska Airlines dumped their own baggage handlers and went to Menzies. Wasn't long after than gang tagging showed up INSIDE the cargo holds of various AA birds.

**pgg** · 05-04-09, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by Morris

Menzies is no friend of our family. Brother-in-law was forced to early retirement when Alaska Airlines dumped their own baggage handlers and went to Menzies. Wasn't long after than gang tagging showed up INSIDE the cargo holds of various AA birds.

You think that would be a clue