Airport official opposes using fed security

Jace Radke

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001 | 10:15 a.m.

Clark County Director of Aviation Director Randy Walker said using federal employees at airport checkpoints may not provide the flexibility needed to respond to the changing landscape of airport security.

"Our position is that we want a system that can respond to changing needs," Walker said. "A federal system would take us into appropriations and government, and that may not be a good recipe for success.

"No one has ever accused the federal government of being efficient, and we need a system that is safe and efficient."

Congress is at an impasse in its debate over federalizing airport security.

A Democratic bill in the Senate would federalize all baggage screening, while a Republican plan, which was passed in the House, would require stricter government control over security though still allow airports to contract with private companies.

Walker said that, if forced to choose one plan, he would prefer the House bill, because it eliminates much of the red tape that would come with the implementation of a new federal agency.

"The Senate's version wouldn't be nimble enough to react to changes, in my opinion," Walker said. "The Senate kind of just jumped in with this plan to federalize."

A possible compromise could allow individual airports to choose whether federal screeners are used, Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., said Wednesday on "Face to Face with Jon Ralston," which airs on Las Vegas 1, a 24-hour local cable news channel owned by Cox Cable, KLAS Channel 8 and the Las Vegas Sun.

Walker said that a nationwide safety system needs to be implemented, and that could be problematic if security becomes enforced by individual airports.

"One of the problems with leaving it up to the airports is that airports are all different," Walker said. "You could have airports with different levels of screening, and that wouldn't do much to bolster the confidence of passengers."

Currently, airlines are responsible for screening baggage and all other items brought onto an airplane, as well as scanning passengers and carry-on baggage at security checkpoints. Argenbright, a private security firm that provides checkpoint security at about 40 percent of the nation's airports, has been providing security at McCarran for more than 12 years.

Another option would be to allow airports to contract with local law enforcement agencies to provide screeners, Ensign said.

Metro Police spokesman Lt. Vincent Cannito said that Metro has not received a proposal to provide airport screening services at McCarran.

"An official proposal has not been presented, and if it was, extensive research would have to be done to determine the cost and additional manpower needed," Cannito said.

Metro Police operates a substation at McCarran and is charged with apprehending individuals who breach airport security or cause disruptions on flights.

Though using local law enforcement for screening is possible, it would be expensive, Walker said. Metro officers make a starting salary of more than $38,000 a year, which is more than private screeners are paid, Walker said.

Calls to an Argenbright spokesman to determine the number of screeners at McCarran and their salaries were not immediately returned Wednesday.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who also appeared on "Face to Face" Wednesday, said there are a wide range of proposals on the floor in Congress. Reid, however, said the time to act is now.

"We have waited too long," Reid said. "We have to have something in place before we leave for Thanksgiving."

Walker said he is confident that an aviation security bill will be passed before Thanksgiving, but added that travelers may not see immediate changes.

"There is great pressure to get something done," Walker said. "Any of the scenarios could work if they are done properly, but whatever is decided will not be implemented instantaneously. We're talking about over 400 airports, so the sooner a plan is in place the sooner we can start to implement it."