Security guard who let pair pass at McCarran checkpoint is fired

Keith Paul

Friday, Dec. 28, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

The Argenbright Security guard who didn't notice two people bypass a security checkpoint at McCarran International Airport, prompting the evacuation of a terminal Christmas Day, was fired, company officials said Thursday.

"The security guard was distracted by helping other passengers, but we have zero-tolerance policy when it comes to security breaches. That guard was dismissed," said Sara Jackson, a spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Argenbright.

The two people who walked down the exit ramp of the A/B gates checkpoint about 2 p.m. Tuesday were seen by other passengers, who then notified security.

Metro Police, National Guard soldiers and airport security members cleared out the A and B gates, and people who had started boarding planes were evacuated while the gates were searched.

The passengers were delayed at least two hours while the terminals were searched. All of the passengers went through security checks again.

The two people were never located, but no weapons or explosives were found. Police and airport officials speculated the pair went through the exit ramp to avoid the line.

Argenbright has come under criticism for various security lapses at several airports.

On Nov. 9, David Beaton was appointed the company's new chief executive officer. Beaton, an executive at Argenbright's parent company, established the zero-tolerance policy regarding any employee who violates Federal Aviation Administration rules or company procedures.

"The guard's responsibility was to be attentive to the exit ramp. Regardless that the guard was assisting other passengers, the first responsibility is to security," Jackson said.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, airport security has been tightened, with National Guard soldiers patrolling airports, and carry-on luggage is randomly searched.

Argenbright, a private security firm that provides security at about 40 percent of the nation's airports, has been providing security at McCarran for 12 years.

Argenbright has come under fire recently in other cities such as Austin, Texas, where National Guard soldiers patrolling the airport have reported a security screener falling asleep on the job and another stealing money from an elderly passenger.

Last year the company was fined $1 million after pleading guilty to charges of conducting inadequate training, testing and background checks on employees who staffed checkpoints at the Philadelphia airport from 1995 to 1998.