http://66.225.205.104/0318monroe.mp3
The Transportation Security Agency is now reviewing a CMPD report on how Delvonte Tisdale was able to access the tarmac at Charlotte-Douglas Airport last fall and climb into the landing gear of a US Airways plane. Reporter Q And A On Tisdale Report The TSA will determine what information in the report should be kept from the public. That's a change from February 28th, with Charlotte City Manager Curt Walton told Council that the federal government classified the report. Walton also cited a federal regulation he said allowed it to be sealed. But the TSA says it never classified the report. The agency says it only advised CMPD on what information was sensitive. The information came to light Thursday in the Charlotte Observer. In this segment, WFAE's Lisa Miller speaks to Police Chief Rodney Monroe about the discrepancy. He says the decision to withhold the report was made after consulting with TSA officials. Rodney Monroe: Nobody was confused about what we could release and what we couldn't release. We were very clear about it. They were very clear to us then, so when it comes to the security aspects, I think that it is in the best interests that we not say where their vulnerability that could cause greater threats to the community. Lisa Miller: Why not release the report with that information that was deemed sensitive redacted? Monroe: I think, ultimately, that's what's going to occur, but it was a line that I did not feel comfortable crossing when it came to releasing that report. I don't believe that we're the ones, based on utilizing someone else's sensitive security information, that I can make that determination. I think we now have a process in order have that done. Miller: Why didn't you ask the TSA to review the document right away as for what material you could release and what you couldn't? Monroe: Trust me, Lisa; that was done. Miller: But the TSA is saying that, you know, this is the first time it's been asked, and they're going ahead and reviewing it. Monroe: Lisa, they had the report. Miller: Did they say to you specifically that this report is classified? Monroe: That information that was included in the report, yes. Miller: Did they say that the whole report was classified? Monroe: No, but it was not a matter of us making a determination of how do we dissect that to say what we can and what we cannot. We tried to talk about those items that we knew and were pretty clear about what was not classified as far as how we got there and what was the motives behind it and so forth. And we talked about those things, but when you talk about those specific recommendations and vulnerabilities, we just did not feel comfortable about crossing that line. Miller: Did you see Curt Walton's statement before the address to counsel? Monroe: Yes. Miller: And I noticed that I never heard you publicly refer to the report as classified, but coming away from that meeting on the 28th, do you feel that the public was mislead or lied to in any way by you or Kurt? Monroe: No, no. Not at all. I think that people believe that there's some pieces of information that are going to give a revelation to how Mr. Tisdale, you know, penetrated the airport or got to the airport. That's not there. I think there's more of an interest of that regard than I think people are trying pay attention to the security of the airport. That's where the greatest focus came out in the investigation about those areas that we needed to pay more attention to and make more upgrades on as a relationship of protecting the public. Miller: Did Mr. Walton's use of the word "classified" concern you at all? Monroe: No it didn't. I think we're all saying the same thing, that there is sensitive security information in that, and he stated it as he believed it to be, and he was correct. There was information in that report that could not be released based on the classified nature of that information, so he was correct. Miller: And that there were parts of it that were classified. Monroe: Yes Miller: Were you technically aware of the terminology? Monroe: Lisa, I'm not going to get into people's technical terminology and so forth. The issue is that we knew there was information that we could not release publicly. TSA is now saying that there's a process that they want to go through in order to determine what that sensitive information is, and that's what we're doing. But trust me, the people here with TSA were a part of the investigation from the very beginning. Meetings, discussions were held at their location here, and we were very clear, upon the completion, what we were not able to release. Miller: Is the airport safe? Monroe: Overall, yes. Are there improvements that can be made to make it safer? Yes. Are there commitments in order to make improvements to make it safer? Yes.