Los Angeles Airport Police
| Los Angeles Airport Police Department | |
|---|---|
| Common name | Los Angeles Airport Police |
| Abbreviation | LAXPD |
Patch of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department
|
|
| Motto | Serving the Aviation Community |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1946 |
| Preceding agencies |
|
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | City of Los Angeles in the state of California, United States |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction | Buildings and lands occupied or explicitly controlled by the institution and the institution's personnel, and public entering the buildings and precincts of the institution. |
| Operational structure | |
| Police Officers | 419 |
| Unsworn members | 650 |
| Agency executive | David L. Maggard Jr., Chief of Police |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 4 |
| Website | |
| Official Site | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Los Angeles Airport Police Division (sometimes referred to as "LAWAPD" or LAXPD") is the largest police agency in the United States dedicated exclusively to 24-hour airport activities. It is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, with more than 1,100 law enforcement, security and staff. It also has the largest civilian Airport security force in the nation. LAX Police is a division of Los Angeles Department of Airports, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). The City department that owns and operates two airports in Southern California: Los Angeles International, and Van Nuys (general aviation). Although currently working very closely with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles Airport Police Department is a separate entity, primarily due to the Airport Police having specialized training and funding resources.
The Los Angeles Airport Police traces its beginnings to 1946, when the Los Angeles Airport was transferred from the War Department to the City of Los Angeles. (The airport was later known informally as “Los Angeles Jetport,” finally becoming “Los Angeles International Airport,” with the three-letter IATA designator of “LAX.”) Six armed “Airport Guards” and one supervisor were hired to provide physical security over City properties.
The number expanded to nine in 1949, the same year that the officers were re-classified as “Special Officers” of the City of Los Angeles. The Special Officers were armed and worked for the Operations Bureau under the direction of the on-duty Superintendent of Operations.
In 1959, the number increased to 12, led by the first “Chief of Security,” George Dorian, with the organization being known as the “Security Division” of the “Operations Bureau.” The organization was responsible for general physical security and for patrolling airport areas. In 1961, with the opening of the new “Jet Age” passenger terminal, a detachment of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were permanently assigned to LAX, working closely with the airport Special Officers.
In 1968, Special Officers of the Department of Airports were granted peace officer status by the California legislature. Slow growth occurred over the years, until 1973, when approximately 70 officers and sergeants were assigned. A single lieutenant position was added in the early 1970s.
...
Wikipedia