Officers help out at airport

Shortly after Sept. 11, the Cape Girardeau Police Department assigned two officers to serve as the terminal's security force.

Passengers boarding the three daily American Connections flights to St. Louis must submit their identification to the officers for verification while their carry-on luggage is examined by an airline ground agent.

While no arrests have been made at the airport since the officers were stationed there, Cpl. Rick Price said there is always the chance something bad may occur.

"Basically, the reason we're here is if someone would act up or have contraband, there would be no one here to arrest them or take care of it," Price said. "By the time the police would be called and get here, the offender would be long gone."

Price said passengers are taking the safety concerns seriously and have not complained to him about longer waits or having their identification scrutinized.

"The airline employees here are thorough and professional, but what really has impressed me most have been the patrons," Price said. "They're really cooperative with us."

Price has been the primary officer assigned to the airport for the last seven weeks -- taking the assignment as a "change of scene" -- with other officers rotated in every three weeks as assistance. Presently, patrolman John Moore is assisting him.

Because of a large amount of down time between flights, the officers stay productive by organizing the police department's new fingerprint files.

The officers' wages are paid through a federal grant from the Traffic Safety Administration, called a Law Enforcement Personnel Agreement, which will expire in December 2003 or become void if federal agents replace them before then, said Capt. Carl Kinnison.

Passing through airport security at Cape Girardeau takes significantly less time than at larger airports because there are fewer passengers. Another motivation for travelers to fly out locally is that once they board in Cape Girardeau, they don't have to be rechecked at St. Louis if they remain in the gate area, American Connections ground service agent Craig Mills said.