Two LA Airport Police Canine Officers
Graduate from TSA
Canine Bomb DetectionTraining

LA Airport Police Officer Thomas Pendola and his canine Lusi.		LA Airport Police Officer Juan Alba and his canine Eno.

(Los Angeles, California - May 2, 2007) Two Los Angeles Airport Police (LAX) canine handlers graduated from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program.

Canine Officers Juan Alba and Thomas Pendola attended the basic course in canine bomb detection training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas — one of the world's top canine training centers. Alba and Pendola were taught the skills of canine bomb detection, safe handling of explosives and searches of various facilities and items.

The use of bomb detection dogs today includes searching areas in response to bomb threats at airports, on aircraft, in luggage, in cargo and vehicles as well as serving as a proven deterrent to would be terrorists.

(From left) Officer Alba, Los Angeles Airport Police Lt. Edward Trahan and Officer Pendola with their certificates after the graduation ceremony. Lt. Trahan attended the ceremony and was recently appointed to oversee the Canine Unit at LAX.

Los Angeles Airport Police, combined with the Los Angeles Police Department, maintains the largest TSA canine explosive detection program in an aviation environment.

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Two LA Airport Police Officers
Save Life Of Heart Attack Victim

(Los Angeles, California - April 5, 2007) Two Los Angeles Airport Police officers are recognized for their actions in saving the life of a United States Postal Service employee at Los Angeles International Airport.

Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Shawn Smith and Joe Espitia responded to an emergency radio call March 20, from communications operator Tamika Gibson, regarding an unconscious man in his vehicle located on the airfield service road.

LA Airport Police Officer Joe Espitia		LA Airport Police Officer Shawn Smith

Arriving quickly, the officers discovered that the subject was in life-threatening distress, had no pulse and was not breathing. Without hesitation, the officers performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in accordance with their police training on the victim.

The officers resuscitated the victim's vital life signs, and manually maintained his breathing until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, who continued life sustaining measures using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The postal worker was transported to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. He was later transferred to Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles and is in stable condition.

Officer Espitia has served seven years on the Airport Police force, and Officer Smith has served for six years. All Los Angeles Airport Police officers have been fully trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

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Los Angeles Airport Police Honor Guard
Post Colors At Awards Banquet

(Los Angeles, California - April 5, 2007) The Los Angeles Airport Police Honor Guard was selected to post colors at the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association's (FLEOA) National Awards banquet in Jacksonville, Florida on March 23rd as a tribute to fallen comrades.

The Los Angeles Airport Police Honor Guard was represented by: Officers Shawna Smith, Caj Scott, Brian Davis, Sofia Gallegos, Mark Corral, Kendra Williams, Marshall McClain and Sergeant George Holt.

(Back row, from left to right) Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Caj Scott, Sgt. George Holt, Officer’s Shawna Smith, Sofia Gallegos, Brian Davis, Kendra Williams, Mark Corral and Marshal McClain. (Front row, from left to right) Los Angeles Airport Police Acting Chief Brian A. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Scott and Los Angeles World Airports Deputy Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Protection Services, James T. Butts, Jr.

The banquet is a memorable event where FLEOA recognizes award recipients selected from its members' nominations. Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Tommy E. Scott, killed April 29, 2005, was remembered along with 13 other federal law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during 2005 and 2006. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Scott attended to accept the 2005 heroism award posthumously on behalf of their son, Tommy. Los Angeles World Airports, Deputy Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Protection Service James T. Butts, Jr., and Los Angeles Airport Police Acting Chief Brian A. Walker attended the banquet in honor of Officer Tommy E. Scott.

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Four Los Angeles Airport Police Recruits Receive Badges

(Los Angeles, California - April 5, 2007) Four Los Angeles Airport Police recruits receive badges during the Los Angeles Police Department Elysian Park Academy ceremony on March 30.

(Left to right): Los Angeles Airport Police Recruit Officer's Roberto Figueroa, Pablo Ayala, Sergio Barot, Bryan Colindres. are the first airport police recruits to participate in the LAPD badge ceremony since Los Angeles Airport Police returned to the LAPD police academy in October last year.

Los Angeles Airport Police is the fourth largest law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County, with more than 900 law enforcement, security and staff personnel. Airport Police is a division of Los Angeles World Airports, the City department that owns and operates four airports in Southern California: Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International, LA/Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys (general aviation).

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Heart Attack Victim's Life Saved!

L.A. Airport Police Officers Receive Recognition

(Los Angeles, California - March 2, 2007) Four Los Angeles Airport Police officers are recognized for saving the life of a male traveler at Los Angeles International Airport February 17.

On February 17, at approximately 12:35 p.m., Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Baquar Syed, James Adrian, Sandra Kimber and Masis Sossikian responded to Terminal 7 near the Transportation Security Administration screening check point for an emergency radio call of an unconscious male traveler who reportedly suffered a heart attack. Officer Adrian responded with a department issued Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in tow while Officer Syed prepared to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). At that time Centinela First Aid arrived and assisted the officers.

Officer James Adrian performed CPR and used the AED which collectively saved the life of the male passenger	The use of the AED and CPR administered by Adrian, with the assistance of Kimber, restored a pulse and the victim started breathing prior to the arrival of the Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics (LAFD). LAFD continued life sustaining measures while transporting the victim to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. All Los Angeles Airport Police officers have been fully trained in the use of the Automated External Defibrillator in conjunction with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Adrian and Sossikian have served on the Airport Police force for nine years, Syed and Kimber for three years. The traveler reportedly made a full recovery, was discharged one week later and continued his travel plans.
BACK TO MAIN PAGE L.A. Airport Police Officers Save Life of a Traveler (Los Angeles, California - February 12, 2007) Four Los Angeles Airport Police officers are recognized for their heroic actions in saving the life of a female traveler at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this January. On January 5, 2007, at approximately 6:15 a.m., Los Angeles Airport Police Officers Marlon Coronado, Gina Luttenegger, Charles Pierce and Brian G. Davis immediately responded to an emergency radio call of an unconscious woman located at Terminal 6 on the sidewalk.
Officer Brian G. Davis Officer Marlon Coronado Officers Charles Pierce & Gina Luttenegger The officers collectively manually performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the traveler until the arrival of Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics, who continued life sustaining measures using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The traveler was transported to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood. She reportedly made a full recovery and was discharged a few weeks later. Officers Coronado and Luttenegger have served on the Airport Police force for two years, Davis for six years and Pierce for seven. All Los Angeles Airport Police officers have been fully trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

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Los Angeles Airport Police Swears In Nine New Officers

(Los Angeles, California - December 4, 2006) Nine recruits joined the ranks of the Los Angeles Airport Police following their recent graduation from Rio Hondo Police Academy in Whittier. Los Angeles Airport Police Acting Chief Brian A. Walker performed the swearing-in ceremony at the graduation. The new officers are: Maria Duenez, Samuel Abbinanti, Walter Plummer, Craig Abrahams, Fernando Farias, Randy Armenta, Matthew Patrick, Raymond Rouzan and Curtis Smith.

NEW OFFICERS: (from left to right) Los Angeles Airport Police Acting Chief Brian A. Walker swore in Airport Police Officers Maria Duenez, Samuel Abbinanti, Walter Plummer, Craig Abrahams, Fernando Farias, Randy Armenta, Matthew Patrick, Raymond Rouzan, and Curtis Smith during graduation ceremonies. Captain Greg Staar is on the far right side.

The next step for the officers is a six month Field Training program. During the training, new officers are assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO) before being assigned to the Patrol Services Section.

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First Annual Police and Fire Appreciation Luncheon
for the Inglewood/Airport Area Chamber of Commerce

On November 15, 2006, the Inglewood/Airport Area Chamber of Commerce and the Interservice Club Council proudly hosted the First Annual Police and Fire Appreciation Luncheon at the Proud Bird Restaurant in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Los Angeles World Airports, this was a first-time event that included the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles Airport Police Department and the Inglewood Police Department in an effort to recognize those agencies that serve and protect the Inglewood/Airport Area.

Honorees were (left to right): Los Angeles County Fire Department Fire Fighter Paramedic Dan Brock, Los Angeles Airport Police Sergeant Anthony Boisselle and Inglewood Police Department Officer Robert Cavazos.

Opening ceremonies included presentation of colors by the Los Angeles Airport Police Honor Guard, the National Anthem sung by Recreation Superintendent, City of Inglewood Sabrina Barnes and Invocation by Sister Fay Hagen, Principal of St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood.

Los Angeles Airport Police Honor Guard (left to right): Los Angeles Airport Police Officer Marshall McClain, Sergeant George Holt Jr., Officers Kendra Williams, Brian Davis, Rupert Staine, Mark Corral.

Retired Inglewood Police Chief Ronald Banks served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Also in attendance was Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn, April Lawrence, representing Congresswoman Maxine Waters; Deputy Executive Director James T. Butts Jr., Los Angeles Airport Police Department; Assistant Chief James Powers, L.A. County Fire Department and Chief Julius Davis, Inglewood Police Department.

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Airport Police Officers Catch
Three Robbery Suspects at LAX Parking Lot

(Los Angeles, California - November 7, 2006) On Nov. 4, 2006, Los Angeles Airport Police Officers arrested three robbery suspects as they prepared to commit a second robbery of a cashier's booth in Economy Parking Lot B at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). On Oct. 8, a cashier's booth at Lot B had been robbed at gun point by three suspects, who fled in a maroon Cadillac.

Acting on information obtained during roll call briefing, Airport Police Officers Richard Sanchez and Glen Huggins arrested the suspected armed robbers. During the arrest, officers recovered a ski mask and two replica handguns one in the waist band of one of the suspects and another hidden under the arm rest in the back seat of the vehicle which are believed to have been used in the original crime. The arrest took place as all three suspects were poised to commit another robbery at the same location.

Officers Sanchez and Huggins drove westbound on 111th Street adjacent to LAX, approaching the parking lot used by employees and as a long-term parking lot for travelers. While driving, the officers saw a maroon Cadillac parked in the lot in a tow-away, no parking at anytime zone with three males sitting in the vehicle. A wants and warrant check conducted by the police dispatch on the vehicle showed its registration had expired March 2006, although the tabs displayed on the vehicle license showed March 2007.

Officer Andrei Soto who responded as backup, assisted Officers Sanchez and Huggins in conducting the vehicle investigation. During the investigation, the driver told officers he was waiting for a friend, who works for the parking lot concessionaire. The suspects arrested for suspicion of armed robbery (211 PC) were Dominic Joel Williams of Los Angeles; Nathan Dewight Richardson Elliott of Inglewood; and Kenneth Kennedy Tatum of Chula Vista..

James T. Butts, Los Angeles World Airports Deputy Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Protection Services, said the officers worked together to accomplish the Airport Police's primary mission of "proactively preventing and suppressing criminal activity."

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Airport Police Officers Graduate From
Rio Hondo Police Academy

(Los Angeles, California — October 6, 2006) Eleven Airport Police recruits graduated from Rio Hondo Police Academy on August 24th. James T. Butts, Los Angeles World Airports Deputy Executive Director of Law Enforcement and Protection Services (pictured below on the right), and Brian A. Walker, Los Angeles Airport Police Acting Chief (pictured below on the left), performed the swearing-in of the new officers at the graduation ceremony.

Congratulations to all our new officers and best wishes in their careers as Airport Police Officers.

The new Airport Police officers are: (left to right, after Acting Chief Walker) Siwon Lee, Edwin Wu, Francis Sur, Alesha Hawkins, Julio Aparicio, Thang Pham, Ivan Rojas, Rito Torres, Jin Shin, Omar Vasquez and Patrice Phyall.

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