TMZ is humorously hammering on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners who let Britney Spears through a checkpoint carrying a "big gulp" cup of some soda beverage. With over 47,000 votes in on the issue (source: poll results on TMZ story page),  88% Americans apparently think it is "unfair" that Britney made it through when they would have been denied to carry their own drink cup through. The TSA defended its choice by telling TMZ that screeners have discretion when it comes to liquids at the checkpoint.

So, what is discretion? And would it be more fair to enforce rules perfectly evenly?

TSA has been criticized in the past for using discretion to disallow certain items at security checkpoints, and that is part of the policy. If a TSA screener is not comfortable with a certain item, even if the item is not expressly prohibited, that item can be denied. Apparently that rule goes both ways, and if there is an item that the screener is comfortable with, it can be allowed to pass. Such an item would be Britney's soda cup.

The issue that comes up for security managers is how far do you let discretion go? If you give officers the power of discretion, how much do you give? At what point can you allow them to deviate (if ever so slightly) from written, codified rules? Do you only allow discretion when something isn't covered by your big black book of security policies and procedures?

These are the issues that a security manager has to strategically consider. And I'd ask any security manager who reads this: Do you know how to spot those instances in your policies where more or less discretion should be allowed?

There was one security manager who wrote extensively on this. He happened to be heading up the TSA at the time and his name was Kip Hawley. I have blatantly excerpted Kip's comments from a TSA weekly newsletter last year and posted them below (and I highlighted a line I particularly like). Before I turn you to the wisdom of Kip Hawley and his thoughts on the topic of security discretion, I want to note that registration for this Thursday's free webinar on airport employee access control is still open (and if you're reading this later, the live program will be archived until November 2010).

Evolution: Kip Answers Your Questions (from TSA.gov, direct link)

Editor's Note: The following is the first in a series of four segments that detail Administrator Kip Hawley's responses to questions from officers at a recent ENGAGE! graduation ceremony.