INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SEAPORT POLICE EXECUTIVES TO MEET IN LOS ANGELES
(Los Angeles, California – May 27, 2003) Nearly 150 airport and seaport senior law enforcement officials from 20 countries will attend the 34th Annual Conference and Exposition of the International Association of Airport and Seaport Police (IAASP) at the Los Angeles Airport Westin Hotel from May 27 through May 30. The conference is co-hosted by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Port of Los Angeles.
"Securing Global Gateways Through Public and Private Partnerships," this year's conference theme, reflects the continued need for information sharing between international governments and private industries.
"The conference will feature the latest updates on global terrorism, seaport and airport security issues, critical incident management and current challenges in a global transportation environment," said IAASP President Henk Van Unnik, who also is chief superintendent of River Police Rotterdam in The Netherlands. "We will analyze current international and national laws, procedures, regulations and technologies to develop strategies that allow for the efficient movement of goods and people through our airport and seaport transportation systems."
Guest speakers include U.S. Congresswoman (36th District-CA) Jane Harman, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, Los Angeles District Attorney Stephen Cooley and U.S. Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Stephen Flynn. Representatives from the Transportation Security Administration, Interpol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the World Institute for Security Enhancement, U.S. Coast Guard, the World Shipping Council and the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol also are scheduled to speak.
Sessions will cover a variety of airport/seaport security topics including: port cargo movement, air passenger and baggage movement, cruise ships, use of explosive detection canines, global organized people smuggling, security technology integration, corporate airline and maritime security, drug trafficking and interdiction, cargo theft interdiction and global intelligence.
A highlight of the conference is the IAASP's annual Memorial March to commemorate the men and women around the world who have lost their lives while protecting the traveling public and workers at airports and seaports. Led by a bagpipe-and-drum team, this year's Memorial March is scheduled Thursday, May 29, and will proceed from the LAX Theme Building to the Flag Courtyard located east of the LAWA Administration Building, where a brief ceremony will be conducted.
More than 20 vendors will display the latest security technology, including interoperable communications systems that connect emergency responders operating on different radio frequencies, and biometric security-access systems.
A golf tournament featuring Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Shaquille O'Neal and other sports and entertainment celebrities also was conducted prior to the conference to provide special equipment and emergency funds for airport and seaport police use through the non-profit Los Angeles Airport & Seaport Police Association, with special funds dedicated to the catastrophic needs of families of officers killed or permanently disabled while in service.
Conference co-sponsors include Cisco Systems, Motorola and Raytheon.
