TSA employee at DIA brought loaded gun to work

Denver7 has confirmed a TSA employee at Denver International Airport was detained after bringing a loaded handgun to work. 

Denver police were called in to question the worker at approximately 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, said police spokesman Doug Schepman.

At this point, the employee has not been charged.   A decision could came later this week, pending further investigation, Schepman said.

A TSA spokesperson sent Denver7 the following statement:

“While conducting security measures established to mitigate the potential insider threat at airports, TSA discovered a loaded handgun in the possession of an employee. TSA takes the potential for insider threats at airports very seriously. At this moment, there is no reasonable cause to believe that the employee who was found with a handgun in his backpack prior to his shift had any ill intentions. The case is currently with local law enforcement and the employee has been suspended until the investigation is completed.

TSA administers employee security checks at airports prior to accessing sterile areas. TSA will continue to closely partner with local law enforcement on this investigation and, where possible, will use the findings from the investigation to improve current processes.”

TSA said the worker was hired in 2002 and works in a support role, but officials would not release any more information about that support role..