Port of Seattle Police Department Ensuring Airport Safety

Local officers best equipped for airport patrol

(Seattle)--The Port of Seattle reiterated its commitment today to officers of the Port of Seattle Police Department as the primary law enforcement agency at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The 103-officer department is the 10th largest police force in the state, and has provided police protection at the airport for nearly 30 years.

"The Port of Seattle Police Department is a state-accredited law enforcement agency with decades of experience in serving the airport environment," said Gina Marie Lindsey, Managing Director of Aviation for the Port of Seattle. "These officers are best able to provide police protection to a facility that is open and accessible to the public."

Port police officers patrol all portions of the airport terminal, the roadways and airport garage, cargo areas, and the airfield. Since Sept. of 2001, officers from neighboring police jurisdictions have been hired to assist with traffic control on the airport drives.

"Airports are subject to all the same types of crime that occur in other public places in our community," Lindsey said. "It's important that officers here be trained and experienced in responding to all types of incidents."

With the number of officers assigned to patrol the terminal, roadways and airfield areas, plus contract officers on the nearby front curbside, there are plenty of officers to serve as a deterrent, and as a response force should a crime occur.

Lindsey noted that over the last several years, Sea-Tac has had far less serious crime than nearby jurisdictions in south King County. But minor crimes such as baggage thefts do occur, and airport customers are urged to take the same kind of personal protection steps that they might on a downtown street or at a shopping mall.

"Be aware of your surroundings and call 911 if you see anything suspicious," said Port of Seattle Police Chief Pat Kasnick. "Don't leave valuables in your vehicle, and keep a close eye on your luggage."

If required, the Port of Seattle Police Department could be expanded beyond its current size. But Port officials stressed that adding a costly and separate federal police force to the public areas of Sea-Tac would only duplicate the work of the Port Police Department. Additionally, those new officers would not have experience in airports and their agency would need years to develop the kind of corporate culture that already exists in the POSPD.

"Our officers can switch seamlessly from helping a lost traveler find their gate, to stopping a luggage thief. It's already in our agency's culture to be approachable and helpful, yet able to take firm action when necessary," Kasnick said.

Lindsey noted that an airport is not like a military base or nuclear facility that is normally protected by federal security forces.

"We are a public facility and we want people coming in our front door," she said. "That provides some unique challenges for security and law enforcement. We think our own Police Department has proven that it's up to the test."