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Behavior Detectors Working Game

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: January 26, 2009

TAMPA - If an officer asks if you need help on Super Bowl Sunday, he might be doing more than simply being gracious.

For the first time, the Transportation Security Administration's "behavior detection officers" are enhancing security at the championship event by watching people for suspicious behavior.

"They're trained to do exactly that - pick people out of a crowd," said Gary Milano, federal security director for the TSA's Tampa office.

These officers don't have the power to make arrests but are uniformed behavioral experts, Milano said.

The TSA and the Secret Service trained about 70 Tampa police officers and Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies who will be working the event. Officers are trained to look for "telltale signs of people about to engage in wrongdoing," based on techniques developed by Israeli security forces, Milano said.

Each of the behaviors, such as profuse sweating, could be innocent on its own but raises eyebrows when coupled with other behaviors, Milano said. He declined to elaborate.

The officers evaluate behaviors on a point system and approach a person for a chat to determine whether there's a need for concern, said Tampa police Maj. John Bennett, who was familiar with the TSA program and invited the agency to participate.

"Legally, you can walk up and just have a conversation," Bennett said, noting that the officers aim to keep the contact friendly.

Bennett asked for the TSA's help about a month ago, after he realized the "secure footprint" around Raymond James Stadium was similar to the security at a port or airport.

"If you're inside the secure footprint, you either have a credential or a ticket," he said.

Bennett visited past Super Bowls looking for ways to mirror or improve on security. After a man was found with a rifle last year near the stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Bennett decided an extra layer of security would be valuable here.

"Our mission is to make a safe event," Bennett said. "If we can ask a few more questions ... that's reasonable."

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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