TSA: We Need Badges

Transportation Security Administration officers are about to get a new accessory for their uniforms: badges like those used by police officers. The idea, USA Today reports, is to make sure TSA's officers get the respect the agency thinks they deserve.

But police officers' organizations aren't very happy about the move -- especially those who work at airports. They think it will just sow seeds of confusion about who the real cops are and create the impression that baggage screeners can handle crimes.

Screeners won't be able to wear the badges until they complete a two-day training course on the implications of projecting the new sense of authority -- including instruction on how to communicate calmly with passengers.