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Not by accident, the badges look exactly like the kind worn by actual police officers. They say "U.S. Officer" at the top, with an eagle emblem in the center and "Transportation Security Administration" across the bottom. Not all law enforcement officials are happy.
Last week as I exited a subway station in DC on my way to a Fourth of July party, I couldn't help but chuckle as I saw two TSA "officers" standing next to two DC police officers. Half of the foursome looked very professional, fit, serious and attentive. The other half looked very out of shape, slouched a bit and didn't seem to know what they were doing there. I'll let you guess which half was which.
I remember a few years ago, when TSA seemed unsure as to whether you were required to take off your shoes, as I went through a checkpoint (at Dulles, I think) the TSA "officer" (who really looked like he was about 18 years old) suggested I take off my sneakers. I didn't, remembering that just a few weeks earlier I was able to go through (also at Dulles) with them on, no problem. I walked through and the detector didn't make a sound. But as soon as I got to the other side, the kid yelled for a pat down. Not a doubt in my mind he was trying to get back at me for not heeding his suggestion.
