Elderly Woman Claims She Was Strip Searched; Government Agency Calls Her a Liar

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But the holidays don't have the same feel anymore. Where we once had, "Grandma got run over by a reindeer," we now have, "Grandma got strip searched at the airport."

At the risk of making light of a bad situation that may be symptomatic of how the Transportation Security Administration operates some of the time in some of the places, this poor woman claims to have been put through a lot at JFK Airport.

"Lenore Zimmerman said she was whisked away to a private room and made to take off her pants and other clothes after she asked to forgo the screening because she worried it would interfere with her defibrillator. She missed her flight and had to take one two-and-a-half hours later, she said."  (http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/03/9191260-84-year-old-woman-i-was-strip-searched-at-jfk?chromedomain=usnews)

Okay, here's where the credibility of you and your organization come into play. "But the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement Saturday no strip search was conducted. 'While we regret that the passenger feels she had an unpleasant screening experience, TSA does not include strip searches as part of our security protocols and one was not conducted in this case,' the statement read."

So the little-old lady, 84 years old, 110 pounds, lied about a strip search? What, did she stop off in the bar for a belt and a smoke and so she missed her plane?

There's more tear-jerk fodder. "As she tried to lift a lightweight walker off her lap (as she sat in a wheelchair), she said the metal bars hit her leg, causing blood to flow from her gash, the newspaper reported. 'My sock was soaked with blood,' she said. 'I was bleeding like a pig.'"

Most of us would believe the little old lady before we believed TSA. That's why TSA shouldn't have denied the strip search occurred without thorough internal and outside investigations. TSA has done some dumb things here and there. I don't know Mrs. Zimmerman, but she's a grandma, and my grandmas wouldn't lie about a strip search.

Symbolism is important when crafting your messages. I remember an episode of All in the Family when Archie was in a car accident. He was all set to sue their pants off -- until his lawyer discovered his wreck was with a station wagon full of nuns.

Mrs. Zimmerman is no station wagon full of nuns. But TSA's statement should have said, "We are sorry for any embarrassment and inconvenience our passenger may have endured. Strip searches are not a standard procedure of TSA nor should they be. We will investigate the incident thoroughly and, if we feel it's necessary, will have outside investigators look into the matter. This should not have happened and should not happen again."

Now you didn't flat out call the woman a liar. You said you would take action. And if you corroborate the woman's story, there is far less crow to eat. According to TSA, "A review of closed-circuit television at the airport showed proper procedures were followed, Jonathan Allen, a TSA spokesman, said in a statement.

"'Private screening was requested by the passenger, it was granted and lasted approximately 11 minutes,' the statement read. 'TSA screening procedures are conducted in a manner designed to treat all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy and that occurred in this instance.' The private screening was not recorded."

Who you gonna believe? We're not talking facts, we're talking perceptions.

Mrs. Zimmerman said she is considering filing a law suit. She might as well. TSA is a far cry from a station wagon full of nuns.