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Investigation Finds LAX Police Slacking On the Job, LAX Disagrees

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Photo by RuggyBearLA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr


Photo by RuggyBearLA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
An investigative report done by local radio station KNX 1070 finds that there have been numerous passenger complaints "about the professionalism of the LAX police stationed at podiums on the other side of security," indicating that the employees are not fully engaged in their job to monitor for possible terrorists.The complaints referenced in a "June 28th memo and email sent by then LAX assistant chief of police Fran Fabrega to his staff and obtained by KNX" include those "ranging from working on laptops, reading newspapers, and using their cell phone for long personal calls. All while they are supposed to be keeping a watchful eye out for terrorists slipping through security."

In response, LAX "director Gina Marie Lindsey claims she can't find documentation for any of the allegations," but believes this is an opportunity to remind LAX police supervisors to be sure their staff are doing what they are supposed to be doing while on the job.

Earlier this month, Councilwoman Janice Hahn called for a review of LAX terminal security after the airport police union's warned the airport could be vulnerable to terrorist attack. Just yesterday, Airport police Chief George Centeno lauded LAX as being "one of the safest airports in the world, and one of the safest areas in all of Southern California."

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