JFK guards caught dozing on the job

A former U.S. Marine who used to work as a security supervisor at New York City's JFK Airport claims he was fired in retaliation for repeatedly reporting subordinates who were sleeping while on duty at the busy terminal.

Stephen Jackson said his habit of catching, photographing and reporting officers dozing on the job became so well known colleagues dubbed him "Nighttime Ninja," but it was all fun and games until he got fired for doing his job.

“At JFK, they didn’t want to know about it. They didn’t want to deal with it,” he said. “I was told that, ‘Listen, You fly under the radar here. You don’t have to be so gung-ho.’”

During his six months of employment with FJC Security Services Jackson claims he went to his bosses about half a dozen instances with reports that guards were sleeping on the job. However, his employer only took action once, suspending an employee he had photographed sleeping.

He added that FJC responded different if guards were caught sleeping by the Port Authority or by other FJC officials. This week, the former airport officer provided the New York Post and CNN with photos that show guards sleeping at JFK.

An official with FJC Security has denied the validity of Jackson's claims alleging he is a disgruntled employee who was recently fired for "gross misconduct and security infractions."

On May 28 Jackson was fired for allowing an off-duty officer to photocopy log entrees.

Jackson told CNN that the guard was a union shop steward and that another supervisor had challenged him to do follow through. He added that they had been told the steward had permission and that he reported the incident within an hour.

"They suspended the other manager and fired me," Jackson said.