Full Notification

Airport Police Officers Call Attention to Security at Airport Perimeters

Advocate 24/7 Police Patrols of Perimeters

LOS ANGELES - The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) repeats its previous calls for tougher perimeter security at our nation’s airports and more strident and transparent reporting protocols in light of an AP investigation that found intruders breach US airport fences about every 10 days.

As the rank-and-file police officers that patrol some of the busiest and most high profile airports in our nation, we have seen firsthand the security gaps posed by porous and unsecured perimeters. AAAPO believes the best way to fortify the airport perimeters involves a combination of technology and more regular airport police officer patrols of the perimeter.

A breach every 10 days at our nation’s airports is unacceptable. The AP investigation found that LAX airport has had 26 breaches from 2004 through February and JFK airport had 12 breaches but stresses these numbers are under estimated. The best way to prevent breaches is with a strong and visible police presence comprised of routine patrols. With an increase in airport and aircraft threat incidents, it is incumbent upon airports to actively take steps to increase the safety of the traveling public.

“The recent EgyptAir incident and Brussels airport attack, along with last fall’s Metrojet bombing, all reinforce that airports and planes are high value targets for terrorist and those looking to cause harm,” said Marshall McClain, co-founder of the AAAPO and President of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association. “For bad guys watching our airports, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to penetrate an airport’s perimeter and potentially get to a plane. What is it going to take to pay attention to this gaping security threat? Instead of spending billions on cosmetic projects here at LAX, like clocks and foreign-made floor tiles, we need to invest in fortifying our perimeter and the ultimate deterrent for bad guys will always be seeing an airport police officer ready to stop them.”

Paul Nunziato, co-founder of the AAAPO and President of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Benevolent Association, said, “These numbers are bad but I can tell you first hand, they are much higher. We must be proactive and take immediate steps to increase security at airport perimeters since airports continue to be a high priority objective for terrorists.”

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The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) is comprised of rank-and-file airport police officers (including many dual police/aircraft rescue firefighters) who stand as the first line of defense against terrorist attacks, hijackings and other criminal activity at our nation’s airports. We seek to promote security and safety for the traveling public, visitors and airport employees by highlighting best practices and identifying areas for improvement and proposed solutions for our nation’s airport security deployment. AAAPO focuses on regulatory issues that promote our efforts to provide the most advanced and cutting-edge service innovations and security processes in our nation and the world. Our organization represents thousands of sworn law enforcement officers across the United States beholden only to this mission. We are unencumbered by neither political nor managerial constraints that would prevent us from promoting sound public safety policy.

The founding members of the American Alliance of Airport Police Officers are comprised of numerous rank-and-file airport police officers from John F. Kennedy International Airport; LaGuardia Airport; Los Angeles International Airport; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; LA/Ontario International Airport; Newark Liberty International Airport; Van Nuys Airport; Stewart International Airport; and Teterboro Airport.