Lew Bertrand introduced his long-time friend, LAX Chief of Police Pat Gannon. LAX has had its own police department for 64 years. Chief Pat reviewed the early history of the Department (life seemed so simple and innocent back then). Now it has 1100 sworn & civilian personnel for LAX, ONT (Ontario) and VNY (Van Nuys). Officers train at the LAPD Academy. There are contingents of the LAPD, Homeland Security, FBI, and several other law-enforcement agencies.
 
 
Since 1968 there have been 6 violent incidents at LAX (50 for the entire US). The “Millennium Bomber” was caught at the border trying to enter from Canada to attack LAX in 1999. The “Alphabet Bomber” in 1974 killed 3 and injured 8. One of the recent attackers of the Texas anti-Muslim art contest had often passed through LAX. A shooter with an automatic rifle recently attacked LAX Terminal 3 (he was stopped by well-trained personnel).
 
The recent manhunts for Chris Dorner in the LA area and the Boston Marathon bombing suspects provided important lessons for law enforcement. Home-grown violent extremists (HVEs) are the biggest emerging threat to US homeland security. The LAX Department is improving its capabilities by focusing its ongoing training on identifying and effectively neutralizing potential threats which can present without warning. There is important vulnerable infrastructure at LAX, such as the aviation fuel tank farm, as well as packed crowds of travelers. There are crash barriers and a re-enforced perimeter security fence. The LAX Department has an Intelligence Unit and a special unit for Dignitary Protection (diplomats and leaders who require special processing and security).
 
The Department’s website is http://www.lawa.org/airportpolice/.