Board of Airport Commissioners Resolve to Keep Airport Police Under Independent, Autonomous Control of Airports Authority.

Business/Travel/News Editors

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today unanimously approved a resolution supporting Airport Police remaining under the independent and autonomous control of Los Angeles World Airports as provided by the City Charter.

The resolution cited "too many risks involved" with merging Airport Police and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), particularly in the current environment of heightened security needs, and said, that "any potential benefits are exaggerated or speculative." The resolution noted that after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Airport Police has received numerous praise by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the LAPD. The Airport Police also has received recognition for its handling of the July 4, 2002, shootings in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, as the first law enforcement agency to arrive on the scene.

The Airport Police Division was established in 1946 and given full police officer authority in 1968 because needs specific to the airport were not being met by the LAPD. This has not changed in 34 years, according to airport officials.

The Airport Police and the LAPD have developed a strong partnership at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and LAPD adds considerable value with its specialized and investigative resources, airport officials said. The agencies use common radio channels for communications and employ the state-mandated Standardized Emergency Management System to manage emergencies in a coordinated and unified manner. Both agencies are exploring further opportunities for resource sharing which will provide economies of scale and improved public safety.

There are approximately 74 sworn LAPD officers assigned to LAX. This complements the airport's 240 current Airport Police sworn officers and 200 security officers. Another 60 Los Angeles Airport Police recruits will begin police academy training in August.

A merger of the two law enforcement agencies would require an amendment to the Los Angeles City Charter.

TEXT OF RESOLUTION

Resolution No. (to be assigned)

WHEREAS, the Los Angeles Airport Police was established in 1946 and was given full police officer authority in 1968 to meet the specific law enforcement needs of the airport that were not being met by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD); and

WHEREAS, on a number of occasions since 1992, there have been discussions over both merging LAPD and Airport Police and reclassifying Airport Police officers as LAPD officers; and

WHEREAS, in 1998, the citizens of Los Angeles rejected Charter Amendment HH, which would have given the Mayor and City Council the ability to transfer the law enforcement function of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to another City department; and

WHEREAS, the last significant attempt at a merger, a 1998 proposal calling for consolidation of all various city law enforcement agencies under LAPD, in a plan called "One City -- one Police Department," was rejected by the City Council; and

WHEREAS, the LAPD merged with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police, but other city-funded law enforcement agencies continue to operate independently including Department of Recreation and Parks Rangers, General Services Department Officers, Airport Police, Port Police, and Housing Authority Police; and

WHEREAS, a new City Charter was adopted by the voters in 2000 that conclusively establishes the Airport Police as a division of LAWA, meaning that any merger of the Airport Police and LAPD would require an amendment to the City Charter and voter approval; and

WHEREAS, the Airport Police consists of authorized headcount of approximately 300 sworn officers, 200 security officers and 160 civilian employees, while the LAPD maintains a substation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with 74 sworn personnel; and

WHEREAS, all Airport Police Officers complete regular police training from a police academy certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), identical to LAPD officers; and

WHEREAS, all Airport Police Officers are required to complete additional POST-certified aviation training, enabling them to more ably address and quickly respond to airport-specific concerns, and Airport Police conducts this aviation training for police agencies from throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the Airport Police and LAPD both have existing law enforcement responsibilities at LAX; and

WHEREAS, the Airport Police and LAPD have developed a strong partnership at LAX with distinct roles, and LAPD adds considerable value with its specialized and investigative resources; and

WHEREAS, proponents of a merger claim that it will eliminate jurisdictional confusion and duplication of efforts, reduce communication failures, eliminate redundancies in management, improve coordination of activities, eradicate inconsistent operating procedures and policies and, ultimately allow better utilization of city resources; and

WHEREAS, LAPD officers assigned to LAX are transient, transferring to assignments elsewhere in the City after little more than one year, preventing them from developing the expertise and understanding necessary to maximize their contribution to the airport; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement experts believe that in order to fully understand the complexities of any new assignments, officers require as much as two years of experience in their role; and

WHEREAS, re-deploying LAPD patrol officers at LAX to fill staffing shortages elsewhere in the City, and using the Airport Police to patrol LAX, would be a more rational and efficient use of scarce City resources; and

WHEREAS, the merger would take 1-2 years to complete and weaken the ability of the airport to fully respond to the increased security needs in the aftermath of September 11th, even though, in this time of heightened airport security, a specialized and dedicated force is needed at LAX; and

WHEREAS, airports operate in a competitive business environment and the Airport Police is committed to providing superior customer service and ensuring that airport users perceive that Los Angeles airports are safe; and

WHEREAS, the federal Transportation Security Administration has praised the work of the Airport Police at a time of heightened sensitivity to aviation security, and Airport Police was lauded after September 11, 2001, by the FAA, TSA, FBI and even LAPD for their handling of a complex law enforcement incident over a period of months; and

WHEREAS, air carriers repeatedly have praised the Airport Police for making security procedures work a lot better at LAWA-owned facilities than at other airports and for working through difficult times with common sense, professionalism, and in good humor; and

WHEREAS, LAX Airport Police has received further recognition for its handling of the July 4, 2002, shootings in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, as the first law enforcement agency to arrive on the scene; and

WHEREAS, this action, as a continuing administrative activity, is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as provided by Article III, section 2.f. of the Los Angeles City CEQA Guidelines; and

WHEREAS, actions taken on this item by the Board of Airport Commissioners will become final pursuant to the provisions of the Los Angeles City Charter Section 245;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports have depended upon the expertise and exemplary service of the Airport Police since 1946, with supplemental service provided by the LAPD when necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this action is exempt from CEQA requirement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there are too many risks involved with a merger of the Airport Police and LAPD particularly at this time of heightened security needs, and that any potential benefits are exaggerated or speculative; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Airport Commissioners and Los Angeles World Airports fully support Airport Police remaining under the independent and autonomous control of Los Angeles World Airports, as provided by the Los Angeles City Charter.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. (to be assigned) adopted by the Board of Airport Commissioners at a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 16, 2002.

Sandra J. Miller -- Secretary

Board of Airport Commissioners