Security Program At Logan Questioned

A program intended to boost security at Logan Airport is being accused of racial profiling.

The Transportation Security Administration’s “behavior detection” program is intended to spot telltale mannerisms of potential terrorists.

Instead, The New York Times reports more than 30 officers in the program said minorities are much more likely to be stopped, searched and questioned for “suspicious” behavior.

Officers said minorities were targeted in the belief they were more likely to have drugs, outstanding arrest warrants or immigration problems.

It is uncommon for transportation agency workers to level this kind of complaint against their peers. The volume of employee allegations in Boston could be especially harmful for an agency already dogged by criticism over pat-downs, X-ray scans and other security measures.

The allegations carry national weight because Boston is the seen as the prototype for an expanded use of detection methods.

The TSA said Friday it has opened an investigation into the claims.