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Man Charged with Murder SPOTted at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

News & Happenings

April 3, 2007

Photo of airport passengers

Behavior Detection Officer (BDO) Jim Gallagher utilized the techniques taught in TSA's Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program to nab an individual at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport who was deported in 2000 to Mexico after being charged with a double murder.

"The exact behaviors this individual exhibited are identical to what we could see from a terrorist before an attack," said Assistant Administrator of Security Operations Mo McGowan. "This is a great example of why the behavior observation program is so crucial to TSA's multi-layered approach to security."

Gallagher initiated an interview after witnessing the traveler's behavior which indicted stress or deception. He was referred to law enforcement officials as a result of his suspicious behaviors. Prohibited items were also discovered during the screening of his accessible baggage.

"The SPOT program is the antidote to profiling because referrals are solely based on the behavior of the passenger," said McGowan.

Further investigation by law enforcement officials revealed his criminal history (the murder charges were later dropped) and deportation. He is currently in the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

The SPOT program is utilized at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and other airports to identify individuals who exhibit behaviors that indicate high levels of stress, fear or deception. The program is a non-intrusive means of identifying potentially high risk individuals. SPOT adds an element of unpredictability to the screening process that will be easy for passengers to navigate but difficult for those seeking to defeat our systems to manipulate.