LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS ISSUES STATEMENT ON AIRPORT POLICE UNION COMMENTS REGARDING LAX SECURITY

            The following statement by Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey is in response to comments made today by the Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Association before a U.S. Congressional hearing on airport security:

The safety and security of the traveling public, employees, and visitors at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is our highest priority.  Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA’s) commitment to this priority is reflected in yearly increases in funding for safety and security personnel, measures, technology, equipment, and training.  Since 2008, LAX’s safety and security-related budget increased 16.5 percent from $126.3 million in FY2008 to $147.2 in FY2014.  These funds covered:  Los Angeles Airport Police, equipment and vehicles, capitalized Airport Police payroll costs, and Los Angeles Police Department costs, including the LAPD Bomb Squad.  The Los Angeles Airport Police ONLY portion of these costs rose 25 percent from $96.3 million in 2008 to $120.3 million in 2014.

In addition, during the past four years, over $93.3 million have been spent on the development and on-going installation of 12 major security-related capital projects, with a total $200.8-million budget for these multi-year projects.  These projects include:  closed-circuit television surveillance system, alarmed door systems, miles of perimeter fencing and intrusion detection system, in-line baggage-screening systems, explosive-detection systems, trunk-radio system, credentialing system, and an Airport Response Coordination Center.

        The number of sworn Airport Police officers also rose 9.5 percent from 411 in 2008 to 450 in 2014.