CHIEF FUMES AT LAX COP BILL BRATTON: LAPD PROTECTS AIRPORT.

Byline: SUSAN ABRAM and HARRISON SHEPPARD Staff Writers

A fuming LAPD Chief William Bratton renewed his opposition Thursday to a bill that would transfer duties from specially trained LAPD units to Airport Police at LAX, warning that security at the nation's third-busiest airport would be jeopardized.

During a morning interview on KTLA (Channel 5) and a briefing later with other reporters, Bratton reiterated his opposition to Assembly Bill 1882, which would give the Airport Police Department responsibility for bomb-squad duties and crowd control -- functions currently handled by the LAPD.

And with Los Angeles considered a high-target city for terrorists, Bratton also questioned whether Airport Police receive adequate training to avert an attack.

``The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of this city, protecting the residents of this area,'' Bratton said. ``Why would you trust the security of a major terrorist target to a police force that is made up of many qualified people, but whose training, capabilities and hiring procedures are not up to that of the Los Angeles Police Department?''

The Assembly voted 41-31 last week in favor of AB 1882, which is now being debated in the Senate.

The measure was sponsored by Assemblyman Dario Frommer, D-Glendale, who said he was concerned that the Airport Police -- who work for Los Angeles World Airports -- do not have the authority to fulfill the duties assigned to them in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Frommer and others noted that voters rejected a ballot measure last year that sought to merge the departments.

``I'm starting to feel the chief is trying to refight a battle he lost at the polling places in November,'' Frommer said in a telephone interview.

``If he's got a plan, I'm all ears to what that plan is to improve security,'' he said. ``But everyone recognizes there are serious gaps at the airport. There are not enough LAPD officers there to fill those gaps and we've got to do something.

``It's disingenuous for the chief to say we're not taking leadership in Sacramento, when we picked up the ball and moved the process forward.''

Bob Baker, president of the Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, expressed concern that the decision is being made by lawmakers in Sacramento rather than law enforcement officials in Los Angeles.

``I do think there should be a local debate,'' Baker said. ``I'm really saddened that the City Council and the mayor have not engaged in a dialogue.''

Bratton said he and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are scheduled to discuss the issue this afternoon.

Councilman Jack Weiss, who sits on the council's Public Safety Committee and is deeply involved in security issues, echoed Bratton's concerns.

``I appreciate Chief Bratton's willingness to speak out on this critical anti-terrorism issue,'' Weiss said in a statement. ``The LAPD should be in charge of policing LAX. It's wrong for Sacramento to interfere by telling Chief Bratton that someone else should protect LAX from an attack.''

But Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who has introduced a motion asking her colleagues to support the bill, expressed disappointment at Bratton's remarks questioning the training of Airport Police.

``Cops are cops,'' she said. ``They all put their lives on the line. We have an autonomous police agency that is dedicated to aviation issues and general safety under the management of the airport.''

Officials with Los Angeles World Airports also defended their 400 sworn officers, saying they are trained to handle the most extreme of cases.

Frommer's bill, they say, would allow them to do more, such as handling explosives and training dogs in bomb detection.

``Los Angeles Airport Police receive the same level of police academy training as LAPD, plus specialized aviation security training,'' said Lydia H. Kennard, executive director of LAWA.

Staff Writer Rick Orlov contributed to this report.

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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