Airport Policeman, Disciplined Before, Fired on New Charges

A Burbank Airport police officer, suspended for 2 weeks in October for pointing his gun at a 91-year-old man who was driving toward him, has been fired amid allegations of lewd conduct, authorities said Tuesday.

Jeffrey A. Mason, 27, the airport officer, was arrested Nov. 14 at Ingomar Valley Circle Park in Canoga Park after two women told police that they had seen him expose himself, according to documents filed in Van Nuys Municipal Court.

Mason was charged with lewd conduct and with falsely identifying himself as a Burbank police officer, both misdemeanors, the documents said. The 17-member Burbank Airport police force has no official affiliation with the Burbank Police Department.

Mason, who could not be reached for comment, is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 20.

Airport Police Chief Anthony Loverme said Mason was formally fired Nov. 29.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority had suspended Mason, a former president of the Burbank Police Officers Assn., for violating security policy by drawing his gun on Henry Waks, 91, on March 27.

The officer had been directing traffic at the airport’s terminal when Waks began driving toward him, said one of Mason’s attorneys, Gerald Lennon. Although Mason shouted repeated warnings and even slammed his citation book on the hood of the car, Waks kept driving, Lennon said.

Mason pointed his gun at Waks and ordered him to stop, Lennon said. When Waks stopped, Mason put the gun away, the lawyer said.

Waks apparently did not understand Mason’s warnings, Lennon said.