Three airport security officers quit

Three federal officers in charge of security at Spokane International Airport resigned Wednesday amid employee complaints and an inquiry by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

The resignations of Federal Security Director David Kuper, along with screening director James Doster and screening manager Roy Fagan will not affect security measures at the airport, said agency officials.

Replacing Kuper as acting director will be Dick Suekawa, a 27-year veteran of the Secret Service who has directed operations for the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, in Indianapolis. The TSA is a unit of the Department of Homeland Security.

All three resignations were for personal reasons, said Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the TSA.

“It’s a difficult situation for us to elaborate on,” Melendez said, “But by bringing a talented director on board we are committed to providing good leadership and effective security planning to Spokane.”

Airport spokesman Todd Woodard said he was not privy to the details surrounding the resignations. He added that he was pleased that the TSA immediately named a successor to Kuper to ensure security operations are kept running smoothly.

“It’s a big agency with checks and balances in place,” he said.

Reached at his home Wednesday, Doster declined to elaborate on the abrupt resignations.

“Officially, it’s for personal reasons,” he said.

The resignations follow an employee petition filed with TSA administrators alleging a hostile work environment and preferential treatment of certain employees.

The complaint generated a letter from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray urging officials in Washington D.C. to give the matter attention. That letter was dated Oct. 19.

The petition, which did not include all screeners, said leaders intimidated workers and engaged in personal and unprofessional relationships with others.

Kuper was paid more than $100,000 a year to lead the airport security effort.

Neither Kuper nor Fagan could be reached for comment Wednesday.

The resignations are not the first TSA changes in Washington state. Last spring, top TSA officials in charge of security at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were replaced.

The Seattle Times had earlier reported TSA leadership problems at the state’s largest airport. The paper published reports of security lapses that put air travelers at risk.

Such problems have not been alleged at the Spokane airport.

The TSA was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.