Airport duty provides police extra federal compensation

TSA'S MONEY

By Heidi Hall ~ Southeast Missourian

The Missouri National Guard pulled out of airport security duty a month ago. The new federal Transportation Security Administration hasn't had time to train and place agents in the nation's airports.

In Cape Girardeau, that leaves city police to safeguard air travelers. It means five community affairs and school resource officers rotate days at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, while patrol officers leave the streets to fill in gaps on the shifts.

So far, they haven't had to thwart terrorists, said Jason Seltzer, a community affairs officer on the airport rotation.

His usual job is compiling reports, dealing with the media, giving tours and handling a mixed bag of other tasks at police headquarters. At the airport, he keeps his eyes open for anything unusual and occasionally inspects cell phones and laptops for weapons or bombs.

"It's not what I signed up for," Seltzer said, quickly adding that he understands the importance of the job, however, in the post-Sept. 11 world.

Federal bonus

He may be relieved soon. The city is receiving a $202-a-day reimbursement from the Transportation Security Administration, and that money will be used to put two officers on permanent airport duty and hire their replacements to work the streets, said Capt. Carl Kinnison. After the hirings, only occasionally will an officer leave his patrolling duties for the airport.

"It really is quite a burden, in one sense, to have to make sure that you are there for all the flights," Kinnison said. "We have been working with the TSA. They have indicated that they are hoping to have people in the airport by November of this year, but that may not happen."

The police security schedule at the airport is tied to arrival and departure times.

The congressional deadline for TSA agents to be trained and placed is Nov. 19, and all checked baggage is supposed to be screened for explosives by Dec. 31.

Airport manager Bruce Loy said the agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, doesn't have many answers about what will change for security in Cape Girardeau.

"These are some of the questions we are trying to get answered," he said. "Airports the size of Cape frankly are going to be the last in line, not in terms of quality, but to see what kind of needs we have."

Police in communities nationwide have taken over security at airports to fill in the gap between the National Guard leaving and the TSA taking over.

The TSA was created in November when President Bush signed legislation aimed at making air travel safer. It made baggage handlers and security agents federal employees. In a report to Congress this month, agency officials said they need 30,000 workers to staff airport checkpoints and screen passengers and another 27,500 to inspect luggage for explosives.

In Cape Girardeau, workers with Trans World Express spot-check baggage, Loy said. The company offers three round trips every weekday to Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, two departures and one arrival on Saturday and two departures and three arrivals on Sunday.

hhall@semissourian.com

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