Brown revokes Atkinson's airport security clearance

Brownsville's director of aviation issued City Commissioner Charlie Atkinson an airport security badge contrary to policy, but said Friday that he was in the process of retrieving it.

"No other elected official has a badge," Director of Aviation Larry Brown said.

Brown said badges are issued to airport employees, contractors and U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors stationed at the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport. It allows them access to secure areas.

Brown said he issued Atkinson a badge because he is a U.S. Customs inspector. Although Atkinson is not stationed at the airport, Brown said Atkinson told him that he could be stationed there at some point.

Atkinson is stationed at the Gateway International Bridge. City Manager Charlie Cabler had been unaware that the city issued Atkinson a badge.

"I am concerned about the fact that I did not know about it," Cabler said, adding that he would take the matter up with Brown.

Brown said that Atkinson filed an application for the badge several weeks ago, was fingerprinted and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a background check.

Based on the check, Brown determined that Atkinson qualified for the badge. Training is required, and Brown said that staff provided Atkinson with training on driving within the airport's secure areas. Brown said he had not felt obligated to give the badge to the city commissioner.

Brown on Friday checked with the federal agency and learned that Atkinson would likely not be stationed at the airport.

"We need to get the badge back," Brown said.

Atkinson said it didn't matter to him.

"What does it matter? It is a Customs issue. Custom officers get badges even if they are not stationed at the airport," the commissioner said.

Atkinson maintains that Customs officials told him that he could get a badge from the city instead of the federal agency.

"The right people in Customs know what I did," Atkinson said. "But if (the city) wants the badge back, I will get one from Customs, no big deal. Either way, I'll have a badge.

"But mine will say Customs DHS (Department of Homeland Security) as opposed to the City of Brownsville. It's the same badge," Atkinson said.

CBP public affairs specialist Rick Pauza said Friday that customs officers are issued government credentials that provide them access to federal inspection service areas at airports.

Airport officials would decide if a customs officer would be given wider access at such a facility, Pauza said..