Unions’ Campaign Toppled LAX Police Plan

Many Los Angeles residents were unaware that an independent police force patrols the city’s airports until this spring, when unions representing the department mounted an aggressive campaign to defeat a measure that would have transferred control of the force from the Airport Commission to the City Council.

Officers feared that Measure A would lead the council to merge the airport police with the Los Angeles Police Department, an idea that has been floated nine times in 26 years, they say.

And despite Tuesday’s resounding loss, it may not be the last time the idea is raised.

“I’m a very patient man, and I’m very comfortable that during my time as chief of police that the airport and other entities will be merged into the LAPD,” Chief William J. Bratton said Wednesday.

The council voted in February to put the measure on the ballot, prompting several airport police unions to take action. First, they hired a crisis communications firm.

Political neophytes, they raised $505,000 from their members, the airlines and Laborers Local Union 777. They sent 1.3 million mailers warning that a merger could put the city’s airports at risk and cost taxpayers millions. They garnered “No on A” endorsements from more than three dozen legislators and organizations.

The effort paid off handsomely, when the ballot measure was defeated by a margin of 64.59% to 35.41%.

“No one envisioned the airport police could mobilize and come from nowhere to become a potent political force in the community,” said Paul Haney, a spokesman for Los Angeles World Airports, the city’s airport agency.

The absence of a formal campaign for Measure A by its proponents, including Bratton, Mayor James K. Hahn, the Police Commission and Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor-elect, in effect led voters to favor the status quo, political analysts said.

“The way it was run left the impression that police were against it,” said John Matsusaka, president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC. “You really have to make your case for change.”

But supporters of Measure A said Wednesday that they continue to believe that having two police forces at Los Angeles International Airport is inefficient. The airport police work to prevent crime at LAX, whereas the LAPD responds primarily after a crime has occurred. The LAPD operates a substation at the airport.

Councilman Jack Weiss said he would continue to discuss airport security with Bratton and Villaraigosa.

“LAX remains the top terrorist target in the region,” Weiss said. “What precise options we’ll pursue will be subject to further discussions with the police chief and the new mayor.”

Airport police said they’re looking forward to pursuing issues that were put on hold while they battled Measure A, including reworking an agreement with the LAPD that divides responsibilities between the agencies and plans to recruit 50 officers in each of the next three years.

Times staff writer Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report.