BILL UPGRADING STATUS OF LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS POLICE APPROVED BY CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY

05/25/2006 12:00 AM

Bill Upgrading Status of Los Angeles World Airports Police Approved by California State Assembly

 

SACRAMENTO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/25/2006 -- The California State Assembly today approved a bill sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer granting additional powers and authority to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Police. In approving the measure, the Assembly rejected arguments suggesting the upgrading of police powers would create confusion or was unnecessary.

The Los Angeles City Charter established LAWA Police as an autonomous law enforcement agency with primary responsibility for the security of LAWA's four airports -- Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), Palmdale Regional (PMD) and Van Nuys (VNY).

In May 2005, Los Angeles voters decided, by a 65 percent vote, that the specially-trained, solely-dedicated LAWA Airport Police was the force it wanted in place to protect the airports. Assembly Bill 1882 gives Airport Police the additional authority needed to fulfill the full spectrum of duties, responsibilities and demands of protecting the airports as mandated by the voters.

The upgrading of LAWA Police status under the California State Penal Code to Section 830.1 was recommended by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). POST noted that "the duties and responsibilities of the LAWA peace officers flow directly from the Airport Commission" and that they need the additional powers and authority to perform current duties and responsibilities such as the need to possess explosives for the training of canines for bomb detection.

"We are very pleased that the State Assembly has recognized the importance of implementing the recommendation of the POST study that was commissioned by the Los Angeles City Council," said Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Alan Rothenberg and LAWA Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard. "We wish to commend and express our appreciation to Majority Leader Dario Frommer for his leadership and diligence in moving this important bill (AB1882) through the legislative process to give LAWA's first-responders the authority needed to do their jobs in the post-9/11 environment."

The Penal Code 830.1 status for Airport Police is supported by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, the LAX Airlines-Airport Affairs Committee (representing the more than 85 airlines operating at LAX), the Peace Officers Research Association of California, and the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) of the City of Los Angeles.

The CLA report concluded that "since the State process for determining the appropriate peace officer status was followed and similar organizations throughout the State are classified under Section 830.1, the arguments in favor of support of upgrading the Airport Police under AB 1882 are very compelling."

The POST study identified the following duties and responsibilities requiring additional authority provided by a Penal Code Section 830.1 designation for Airport Police:

 

  • The need to possess explosives for the training of canines for bomb detection.
  • The requirement to seize explosives and incendiary devices, including any unclassified explosives.
  • The necessity to possess diversionary devices to immediately control any incident at the airports.
  • The requirement to conduct background investigations on the people working at the airports under the Federal Transportation Security Administration regulations.
  • The authority for officers to seize firearms or other deadly weapons at the scene of domestic violence calls in and around the airport terminals, in the residential areas owned by the airports, and in businesses under the control of LAWA.
  • The responsibility to keep unsafe vehicles off the public roads in and around airport properties and prevent them from entering the airports.
  • The function of preventing "gridlock" on the roads leading to and leaving the airports.
  • The prevention, enforcement and investigation of all laws of making false bomb reports and giving false information.
  • The need to issue a citation to a person involved in a traffic accident where there is reasonable cause to believe the person has committed a vehicular misdemeanor or infraction.
  • The authority to inspect and enforce the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the airports.

The newly named LAWA Deputy Executive Director for Airport Law Enforcement & Protection Services, James Butts Jr., said, "AB 1882 is important for airport security, and will be helpful in retaining top-notch airport police officers and recruiting quality candidates."

Currently the police chief of the City of Santa Monica, Calif., Butts will lead the LAWA police and security forces assigned to the four airports in three cities, as well as assume a pivotal role in collaborating and coordinating law enforcement and security duties performed by more than 4,000 federal and local officers. The largest of these outside agencies include the Transportation Security Administration (2,000 transportation security officers) and Customs and Border Protection (800 sworn officers).

Other agencies with a law enforcement presence at LAX include the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Secret Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Federal Air Marshal Program, among many others. In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) maintains a substation at LAX.

 

 

 

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