Full Notification

Airport Police Nationwide Call for Police Presence
at TSA Screening Checkpoints

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - With the recent terror attacks at airports in Istanbul and Brussels, there have been widespread calls for enhanced security at American airports. The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) supports these calls for increased airport security, but the notion that extending TSA screening checkpoints to the curb, or in parking lots, is absurd.

Proposals have been floated about moving TSA screening points out of terminals and onto the curb, or even as far as parking lots; however, this does not get rid of the chokepoint caused by long lines and large crowds-it only moves it. In addition to not truly solving the problem, moving checkpoints could potentially create more problems, as it would require TSA agents to screen even more individuals with significantly more people allowed to be in the sterile area and having access to airplanes. The lines and crowds and congestion will still be there and be far greater than before.

In this regard, the AAAPO believes the single most important action that can be taken to fortify airport security is to have a law enforcement officer located within 300 feet of the TSA screening checkpoint at major airports since the screening area and TSA agents are most often without an armed airport police officer nearby to protect this area. This adds not only a deterrence factor, but it adds increased security for TSA agents, travelers and the airport, and provides the capability for law enforcement to neutralize threats that may arise in this area and prevent them from reaching airplanes. Therefore, we encourage support of HR 5720, The Checkpoint Optimization Act, which will require large airports to ensure a dedicated airport police officer is at the screening area.

"Moving the TSA checkpoint further out to the curb or parking areas creates more of a "needle in a haystack" situation. Shifting the placement of the screening area, which will in turn require the screening of even more people, will not prevent the problem it is trying to solve-which is, to prevent terrorist or those looking to cause harm from reaching airplanes," said Marshall McClain, co-founder of the AAAPO and President of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association. "Instead, the best solution would be the simpler and more productive action of placing an airport police officer near the current screening areas who can rapidly respond to any threat or criminal activity."

"As police officers, we want to be able to effectively do our jobs-to protect the public. The TSA checkpoint is a highly vulnerable area, but moving it solves nothing," said Paul Nunziato, co-founder of the AAAPO and President of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Benevolent Association. "The better answer is to have a police officer near TSA checkpoints which is the last barricade to detect and stop threats from getting to airplanes. Plain and simple. No big reorganization or expensive infrastructure overhaul is needed. A cop at the screening area is what we need."

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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.