LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and its Los Angeles Airport Police each received recognition today from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for their performance as partners in ensuring safety and security at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Lawrence E. Fetters, TSA Federal Security Director at LAX, presented the Annual Partnership Awards to LAWA Chief Operating Officer Paul Green and Airport Police Chief Bernard Wilson. Fetters said, "This is an incredible partnership that I believe is unlike any other airport in the United States."
Both Green and Wilson acknowledged the partnership and its importance to LAWA for ensuring travelers' safety and security. Green said, "There is nothing more important than the endeavor that contributes to those goals."
Fetters said, "The Airport Police are the best law enforcement presence at any airport in America. The Airport Police respond to every incident at LAX, and I am grateful for that. The TSA is dependent on their omnipresence at LAX."
According to Fetters, since the TSA began operations at LAX two and half years ago, the TSA and its law enforcement partners have handled more than 3,600 security-related incidents, made several hundred arrests for security violations, and seized one million prohibited items and 10,000 weapons.
Fetters thanked LAWA for providing the necessary financial resources to make the new security improvements and for its dedication and cooperation to ensuring airport safety and security.
The TSA Partnership Award recognizes industry partners whose accomplishments and excellence in performance distinctly benefit the interest of the United States and clearly advance the TSA's mission to protect the nation's transportation systems.
In addition to honoring LAWA and its Airport Police, Fetters presented Partnership Awards to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Resident Agency located at LAX.