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TSA officer reportedly caught with firearm in busy Atlanta airport is arrested

A TSA officer was arrested at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta foreign Airport on Tuesday after police obtained a file of an officer with a firearm past the security checkpoint. Atlanta police say that the officer, who was recognized as fifty eight-yr-historic Matthew Gilbert, was charged with reckless behavior. it is uncertain why Gilbert turned into allegedly carrying a firearm.

Gilbert turned into taken to Clayton County penitentiary and has considering that been launched, in accordance with Fox 5 Atlanta. The local outlet introduced that Gilbert is not by myself when it comes to airport employees carrying firearms, noting that police say dozens had been caught.

A Transportation protection Administration (TSA) agent's patch is viewed as she helps tourists place their bags through the 3D scanner at the Miami overseas Airport on can also 21, 2019, in Miami, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty images)

"We do not want weapons within the secured area of the airport," spoke of Capt. Toya younger of Atlanta Police told Fox 5 Atlanta. "earlier than getting to the secured enviornment, you might be free to lift, however once you're stepping into a secured area, it is towards the legislation to raise a firearm."

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travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta foreign Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, Oct. 2, 2023.  (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty images)

A photo on the TSA's site indicates that officers confiscated 440 firearms at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta foreign Airport, more than every other in the nation. The agency claims it intercepted more than 6,670 firearms in 2024.

"One firearm at a checkpoint is simply too many," TSA Administrator David Pekoske pointed out in a statement. "Firearms present a safety chance for our personnel and everybody else on the checkpoint. It's additionally costly and slows down operations."

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individuals stroll up to security check-in on the airport forward of the Thanksgiving holiday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta foreign Airport, in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 27, 2024.  (REUTERS/Megan Varner)

for those who ought to commute with firearms, the TSA has clear directions on a way to legally do so.  besides the fact that children, TSA says there are "confined exceptions for law enforcement officers" when it involves touring with firearms.

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When requested for comment, a TSA spokesperson instructed Fox information Digital, "TSA is privy to the arrest of an officer at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta foreign Airport (ATL) on Tuesday morning."

"TSA has zero tolerance for misconduct on or off obligation and the officer involved has been removed from screening repute, placed on depart pending further motion, based on resolution of the case. Passenger and employee safeguard is accurate priority for TSA, and we are working carefully with our Atlanta Airport Police partners on this incident."

Fox information Digital reached out to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international Airport, but has yet to obtain a response.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking information author for Fox information Digital and FOX enterprise.

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