Office of the Chief
Chief Patrick M. Gannon
Patrick M. Gannon was appointed to the position of Chief of Airport Police at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) on November 26, 2012. In this position he is responsible for law enforcement and security at Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports, as well as LAWA’s aviation-related property in Palmdale.
As Chief of Airport Police, he leads the Nation's premier aviation law enforcement agency with over 1,100 specially trained police officers, security officers, and civilian staff protecting Los Angeles International, Ontario International, and Van Nuys airports. Airport Police officers and civilian security officers are assigned to a wide range of law enforcement and security functions, including police patrols, explosives detection, access control, counterterrorism, infrastructure protection and tactical response.
The Office of the Chief of Airport Police ensures compliance with the Airport Security Programs at LAWA's three airports; Transportation Security Administration mandates; pertinent airport rules and regulations; and international, federal, state and local laws and ordinances. In pursuing this objective, Airport Police conducts field inspections of personnel, equipment, and facilities; and manages activities of all law enforcement and security units. LAWA Police works closely with LAWA divisions and airport tenants, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement agencies operating at LAWA airports, including the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Office of Homeland Security & Intelligence, the Office of Operations, the Office of Support Services, and the Airport Police Public Information Officer report directly to the chief.
Additionally, the Chief of Airport Police may act on behalf of the Deputy Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security and Intelligence, when the deputy is unavailable. The Chief also appears before the Board of Airport Commissioners, the City Council, and industry leaders to discuss safety and security concerns at Los Angeles World Airports.
Professional Experience
Chief Gannon retired from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 2012 after 34 years of service, 12 years of which were at the executive management level. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as Deputy Chief at LAPD’s Operations-South Bureau. The bureau, with 1,700 sworn officers and 150 civilian employments, served 800,000 residents from South Los Angeles to Wilmington and San Pedro. In this assignment, Chief Gannon was responsible for overseeing all law enforcement services provided by four community police stations, a traffic division and a homicide division.
Education
Chief Gannon graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, and from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in public administration. He has also successfully completed the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and the West Point Leadership Program.