Guard begins security duty at airports

Missouri National Guard troops began security duty Saturday at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport and others around the state.

About 200 of the 700 Missouri Guardsmen who volunteered were tapped to also augment security at airports in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Joplin, Columbia, Kirksville and Fort Leonard Wood.

In Cape Girardeau, guardsmen, armed with Beretta handguns and wearing combat fatigues, weren't permitted to say where they were from nor comment on recent training they received from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Similarly, officials refused to specify numbers of Guard troops at each airport or their roles. They did say the guardsmen have authority to detain suspects until airport police arrive.

In general, the Guard's mission is "to support the local authorities by being visible," Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lamunion said Saturday at the Cape Girardeau airport.

The Guard deployment is meant to give the FAA time to hire and train enough civilian personnel to provide airport security. Until now, airport security typically has been provided by private firms that contract with airlines.

The tighter security is part of the response to the Sept. 11 attacks in which hijackers crashed two planes into New York's World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon in Washington. A fourth hijacked jetliner crashed in rural Pennsylvania after passengers struggled with the hijackers.

Public confidence

U.S. air travel dropped sharply after the attacks, causing airlines to lay off tens of thousands of employees. Although the number of commercial flights each day is returning to near normal, some of the planes are only one-third to one-half full.

In addition to providing security, part of the Guard's mission is to help build the public's confidence in air travel," Lamunion said.

In a special ceremony Friday, local Guardsmen added black berets to their uniforms with a crest depicting a golden bear above the words "Protectors of Peace." When their airport duties end, guardsmen will wear unit crests on their berets.

Pointing to a sign printed in bold-face warning passengers not to joke about hijackers, Sgt. David Begley said: "Take it seriously. No offense, but you don't want to see us mad."

At St. Louis' Lambert Airport on Saturday, Florida-bound Bill Stables patiently waited his turn at a checkpoint that was flanked by uniformed Guard troops far from inconspicuous

"It's good that they're visible, and I'm all for it," said the 54-year-old credit collections chief for a St. Louis company.

"I wouldn't say I'm reluctant to fly again, but I certainly think about it a bit more," Stables said. "I'm more guarded."

Literally.

While believing the deployment might be a lot about appearance, Stables said "security used to be a joke, so I think most people would be for anything to tighten it." Glancing at the troops nearby, he said "it's just like when you drive down the highway and see a patrol car. You slow down."

Barricades still standing

Until Saturday, Cape Girardeau police were providing security at the airport. Their presence was still highly visible Saturday with at least two patrol cars on site.

Since the attacks, cement barricades have surrounded the once-convenient airport parking lot. Assistant city manager Walter Denton said it is unclear whether parking there will be permanently unavailable.

Until the federal government develops a permanent security plan, the city plans include pouring gravel on a nearby grassy area to create a temporary parking lot.

Also uncertain is how long Fountain Street will remain closed from Broadway to Themis.

On Sept. 11, local police helped move all vehicles away from the federal building on Broadway, closed Fountain Street to traffic on the building's west side and erected barriers preventing parking on Broadway and Themis at the front and rear of the building.

Denton said the police chief has been instructed each Monday since the attack to keep the barriers in place for at least another week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

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