Merging LAPD, Airport Police Not Easy, Officials Say

Merging the independent police department that patrols Los Angeles International Airport with the LAPD would probably be immensely complicated, take several years and cost up to $50 million, airline and city officials told a council committee Monday.

The details of what it might take to combine the 801-person airport police with the Los Angeles Police Department emerged for the first time during a 1 1/2 -hour hearing before the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. “It’s very complex and I think some try to make it appear not so,” Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, the committee chairwoman, said in an interview. “It’s not just a black-and-white, do it or don’t do it issue.”

City leaders called for joining of the departments earlier this year after several highly criticized incidents that involved airport police. Included were a SWAT team boarding a jet in May that was emitting a false hijack alarm, a high-speed crash in Inglewood a few days later in which a pedestrian was critically injured and a television report last month that showed officers hanging out at a fast-food restaurant and failing to respond to radio calls.

Officials have made several attempts to fold the airport police into the LAPD, but the idea never gained political support. The airport police work to prevent crime at LAX; the LAPD investigates crimes that have occurred.

The committee discussion centered on a proposed City Charter amendment that voters would have to approve to eliminate the independence of the airport police force. The panel asked the city attorney’s office to draft an amendment that would eliminate a requirement that airport and harbor police departments be independent. The council has until Jan. 26 to decide whether to place the measure on the May 17 ballot.

Miscikowski asked for reports from the city attorney and the legislative analyst outlining how the two departments would be unified. The council would ultimately have to approve such an action, which could take years to complete.

“It took over two years for the MTA consolidation to be approved,” said Gerry Miller, acting chief legislative analyst at the hearing. “This is not something that would happen in June.”

After a protracted fight, the City Council voted in 1997 to have the LAPD contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to police most of Los Angeles County’s transit system. The Sheriff’s Department, which shared the initial contract with the LAPD, now patrols the system.

Separately on Monday, the city’s Airport Commission voted unanimously to hire Counter Technology Inc. of Bethesda, Md., to study various ways the city could combine the LAPD and airport police and to estimate the cost. The firm is expected to make its recommendation by Feb. 28.

At the council’s Public Safety Committee hearing, members grilled Chief of Airport Police Bernard J. Wilson about a television report that showed his officers loafing on the job.

Wilson said he has relieved 10 officers of duty as a result of the report and is investigating three commanding officers. “I want to say that I’m very embarrassed,” he said, regarding the television report. “This is not widespread.”

The LAPD and the city’s Police Commission also voiced support for a merger at the council committee hearing.

“It’s in the interest of the city to achieve consolidation as soon as possible,” testified LAPD Deputy Chief Michel R. Moore. “There have been instances of confusion of roles and confusion of responsibilities.”

City Administrative Officer William Fujioka said the change would likely save the city money in the long run by doing away with the need for extensive LAPD overtime at LAX. The airport agency now pays about $15 million a year in LAPD overtime costs.

An airline representative and airport officials, however, urged the council to wait for the study by Counter Technology.

Carriers are concerned that if a merger took place the airport could end up paying for LAPD officers who don’t work at LAX. The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits airports from spending money off airport grounds. “Merging or unifying the airport police force with LAPD may have the potential for violating federal law and policy regarding the use of airport revenue,” testified Robert Dibblee, a managing director for the Air Transport Assn., an airline trade group.

The costs associated with a merger, including pension, training and related expenses, could be $45 million to $50 million initially and $4 million a year after that, Dibblee said.

Fujioka disputed this estimate in an interview, saying that “it makes no sense” because the pension benefits for airport police, considered the bulk of the costs, are not likely to be that high.