Thursday, September 18, 2003
Airport may get more guards,
fewer cops
By Patrick Driscoll
The San Antonio (TX)
Express-News
Saying more is better, city officials
have proposed cutting four police officer positions at the airport while adding
16 security guards, a move decried by some officers who said having fewer
trained officers would weaken security.
The officers offered an alternate
proposal, which costs about the same but would have added seven police officers
and no new security guards.
City officials said the guards primarily
would handle traffic in front of the terminals at San Antonio International
Airport. That's an area aviation security experts often cite as the first layer
of defense against terrorist threats.
The guards could write tickets but
couldn't carry guns, make arrests or even detain anyone, according to the Texas
Municipal Police Association, which represents some of the police officers at
the airport.
"Sworn officers, rather than civilians, assigned to traffic
means that potential problems are more likely to be recognized and handled,"
said Kevin Lawrence, the association's director. "The civilians that the city
intends to hire, especially at the salaries they intend to offer, just won't be
able to do the job."
Airport officials maintain that security would not
be compromised under their plan because a larger force would provide more
surveillance.
They also point out that the federal government does not
require certified officers at all posts; guards can be used at some
locations.
"If you're down positions, you're not going to have as many
eyes and ears out there," airport spokeswoman Lisa Burkhardt-Worley said. "That
means someplace in the airport is not going to have someone at it."
The
plan to restructure airport police, which the City Council is scheduled to
consider today as part of its overall budget, would cut the four officers by
attrition, leaving 38, and create the 16 positions for guards, officially called
parking enforcement officers.
The new guards would replace a contract
force but cost only about half as much, saving roughly $300,000 a year. Salaries
and benefits for each guard are almost a third less than for police officers,
which means more bodies on patrol for the same amount of money.
Lawrence
said his organization's plan would provide better security, albeit with five
fewer positions.
"Being able to recognize and thwart potential problems
requires a great deal of training and experience," Lawrence said.
Airport
officials said they have looked at the plan, but prefer the city's
proposal.
"We're adding, not cutting," Burkhardt-Worley
said.
Graphic: Two proposals
Flash plugin needed to view
graphic.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/images/graphics/0918airportpolice.swf