SECURITY INSPECTION PROGRAM (U)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00142R000600080004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 19, 1978
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 20Q4108102 'CIA RDP81-bdf4 tl0d6000 0
19 DEC 1978
OLC 78-3625
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM Federal Women's Program Board
Chairperson
STATINTL
SUBJECT
: Security Inspection Program (U)
1. Action Requested: That the Security Inspection Program be
modified-o-e 'mina e its unfair application to women. (U)
2. Background: Since October 1978, Agency employees have been
participating iri a.n experimental 24 hours-a-day briefcase, purse, and
package inspection program.. The Federal. Women's Board has received
a number of complaints which the Board feels are serious enough to
warrant your attention. The Board members spoke to Mr. Bob Gambino,
Director of Security, on 14 November 1978, and he seemed surprised
at the depth of negative feeling about the search expressed by the Board
members. While we understand the rationale for searching only items
that are carried, in practice the system is unfair to women who
consistently carry one or more items. This inherent unfairness is
evidenced by the lines of women waiting to be searched at each building
exit at COB daily while the majority of men depart without questioning.
Mr. Gambino promised to look into the uneven application of the search.
(U / IUO)
3, We would like to emphasize that we support the need for the
program, but we also recognize that its success depends largely
upon the cooperation of Agency employees. (U/IUO)
4. We feel that as representatives of the women of CIA, we have
a responsibility to bring to your attention matters that are of importance
and concern to some of the women employees. According to the
complaints received by Board members, many women feel that the
inspection program is fundamentally unfair. They contend that their
purses are not merely containers but private and personal items of
clothing that all women must have for their money, keys, etc. Because
women view their purses as extensions of their persons, they co iside
the purse search a grave--and sometimes embarrassing--invasion of
their privacy, in much the same way a man would view a search of his
coat and pants pockets. (U/IUO)
Approved For Release 2001/08/02 : CIA-RDP81-00142R000600080004-7
 Approved For Release -2, P1/08/02 : CIA-RDP81-00142R0006000 0004-7
5. A number of the womea feel strongly that if the purse
inspections are to continue, then men's inner coat pockets
should also be subjected to a visual inspection. If the inspection
program is a serious one, it should be clear that a man's inner
coat pockets serve the same function as a woman's purse and can
conceal documents. The recent revelation in the press that
Kampiles smuggled out highly sensitive documents in his inner
coat pockets should demand that the men's pockets be inspected.
To our knowledge, there is no case of a woman employee
concealing documents in her purse. (U /IUO)
6. Because of the interest and emotion generated by this
problem, the Board fears that if some corrective action is not
considered, there is the very real possibility that a disgruntled
and aggrieved woman employee will 1) go to the press; 2) file
an EEO complaint; or 3) file a lawsuit, claiming a violation of
EEO laws or Constitutional rights. (U /ITTO)
7. Recommendation:
(a) That the Security Inspection Program be mo.= 1---d on
the National Security Agency's inspection program in which
only briefcases and packages are inspected. (U/ITJO)
(b) That alternatively, if the inspection of women's purses
is to continue, then there should be an inspection of men's inner
coat pockets. (U/IUO)
(c) That because of the inconsistent administration of the
inspection program by the FPO's, the FPO guidelines describing
the scope of the searches under the program be distributed to
every employee and pc:-;ted at each entrance. (U/IUO)
(d) That employees be instructed that any alleged infractions
of the guidelines are to be reported to the Director of Security..
(U/IUO)
1-51
STATINTL
for the Federal Women's
Program Board
APPROVED:
17ii ector of Cen-- a 7c!lligen.ce
DISAPPROVED:
Director o~ C~entr~~~-TnterTi~eri