Airport Security Officer Don Williams Finds $9500 At Dallas Fort Worth Airport And Returns It To Owner Carlos Palma

Airport security officers often get a lot of flak from travelers in a hurry to get on their flights.

But for one passenger last week at Dallas/Fort Worth International airport, the honesty of a security officer served as a reminder of the TSA's good work, WFAA reports.

According to Fox News, Carlos Palma dropped an envelope full of money at the airport's security checkpoint. Unaware of his loss, Palma rushed on to catch his flight home to Iowa.

Thankfully for him, TSA officer Don Williams was nearby and spotted the envelope.

"I picked it up off the floor and palmed it in my hand so that no one could see it," Williams said, who added that he could immediately tell that it was a wad of cash.

Williams then made an announcement, asking passengers if anyone had lost anything. When no one responded, Williams and a supervisor took the stuffed envelope to a private screening, NBC News reports.

Opening it, the two found a cool $9500 -- all in $100 bills.

Somewhere far away in the sky, Palma finally realized that he had lost his envelope of money.

Officer Williams said that he lives by a simple childhood lesson. "Always do the right thing and that way you can live with yourself," he told NBC News.

Landing in Iowa, Palma's son called the TSA to locate the money -- and of course, he soon found it.

"I trusted the TSA personnel," Palma said. "And I'm very proud of having that type of security."

Talking to Williams over the phone, Palma was effusive with gratitude.

But Williams said that he's just glad that Palma has been reunited with his money -- adding that this is all just part of an honest day's work.

"We found $400 a few minutes ago," Williams told WFAA. "It's not that unusual here."

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Comments

[jellyj]

10:51 PM on 04/22/2012

I left my rather expensive watch in the security bin and had a TSA agent flag me down to give it back. I suspect most of the agents are decent folks doing an ill appreciated job, kinda like writing up parking tickets.

[trekie70]

10:27 AM on 04/22/2012

Nice to see a positive article about the TSA. I myself have been critical of them at times but more so of their apparent lack of training than individual character(they keep seeing "something" in my empty pockets).

[tccat4]

08:58 AM on 04/21/2012

Clone him..... then fire all the special agents who rob and steal or abuse everyone. Could be a staged event.. since they needed something to get the people to believe flying is a fun experience and you won't get mugged by the TSA.

[kmcloonjr]

07:36 AM on 04/21/2012

Who carries $9,500 in cash these days?

[muffy63]

02:56 PM on 04/21/2012

Your right, but if you take $10,000.00 out of the country, you have to declare it!

[Sheena Schmidt]

07:24 AM on 04/21/2012

I was strip searched and had a woman put on platic gloves and said he was going to put her hands on my skin for body search, seems their machin was not working,I had tested for narcotics, what a hassle, after its over people look at you with strange look, like what did she do wrong

[Sheena Schmidt]

07:21 AM on 04/21/2012

last week a TSA agent took 300 dollars from an old 95 year old man, he still has not got his money, they said the tape was fuzzy, sure it was

[lifehub]

06:41 AM on 04/21/2012

Airport security 'get a lot of flak' due to the numerous and multiple thieving, dishonesty, and corruption among them. This TSA guy only displayed what SHOULD be displayed---and that's trustworthiness, honesty, and decency. Few and far between in today's America.

[driver11]

06:10 AM on 04/21/2012

There are still a lot of good people in this world, but we can't see those people because we only see and hear about the bad ones.
Many parents today do not teach their children to be honest, respectful or anything else. All they care about are themselves and their lives, which they should have thought about before having kids. As long as their kids are out of their hair they could care less.
Officer Williams parents raised him the right way and he never forgot it.
All I can say is CONGRATS TO HIM AND HIS PARENTS!!!!

[shaterra]

05:06 AM on 04/21/2012

see, there are still good people around.

Now, if we could get our newly minted "people", ie. corporations, to behave like good people.
We might just make it past the first couple of decades of this new millenium.

[Backman]

03:33 AM on 04/21/2012

A honest TSA agent. Thats a first

[Bnic5]

03:48 AM on 04/21/2012

The first for a news agency to report. A lot of TSA agents are good people, but only the few whole steal money from old men and abuse there power ever get press. Media bias right there.

[lifehub]

06:41 AM on 04/21/2012

It's hardly a 'few.'

[cottere5]

08:06 AM on 04/21/2012

I was shocked also, but he should expect no praise for doing the right thing, for it is his duty.

[luceeclair]

02:01 AM on 04/21/2012

Well, this is refreshing to read about! Most times, I wonder: who protects US from TSA, the people PAID to protect us? I have had my suitcases invaded, stuff stolen and creams/liquids leaked all over my things because TSA manhandled my belongings. Then they blamed the baggage handlers for rifling my stuff and said they can't help that. That made me ask: Don't you secure the suitcases? I mean, can't someone PLANT something, a bomb or other terroristic device in my cases, if they can steal from them without TSA knowing about it? They didn't like that, nor did they reply! Valid question, I think, don't you think so too? Anyway, TSA passed the blame to the airport. Now, of course, all the press about TSA stealing from passengers is out there, but I doubt that will make it easier to recoup stolen or damaged personal property from TSA! But this article about an HONEST agent is fuzzy and nice :-) That's all.

[knarf714]

01:13 AM on 04/21/2012

I am not a big fan of the TSA but I would be willing to say there are probably more agents like Williams than the bad ones. We just hear about the bad ones because people just like to complain and not all the complaints are justified.

[fd909]

12:14 AM on 04/21/2012

That, dear friends, is a dedicated , honest man. There are still lots of them, but good deeds rarely make headlines. Way to go, Officer Williams! Many readers here are very proud of you, myself included.
Keep Safe, and keep up the good work!

[1studmuffin]

12:11 AM on 04/21/2012

That money and another $26.5 K buys a single weekly round trip for Panetta.

[czski79]

11:41 PM on 04/20/2012

Lucky it didn't happen in Newark or Philly. Officer Laughtishia Jones be driving a new/used Benz round Da Hood.