Report finds JWA security breaches

James Meier

Security at the airport meets or exceeds federal mandates, but still

has holes it needs filled and funds it needs to find, the county’s

Grand Jury reported Monday.

The study that began in August found that surveillance camera

coverage and fencing at the airport need closer looks. The jury did

not want to reveal the specific breaches in security, so they were

not listed, the report said.

Ann McCarley, spokeswoman for John Wayne Airport, said the report

pleased and encouraged airport officials, but said none of it came as

a surprise.

“Everything they mentioned, we had already been looking at,” she

said. “Our security plan is constantly updated.”

The report also discovered that while security was heightened by

removing 217 parking spaces, it resulted in a loss of about $1

million in annual revenue. Another $3.2 million is now spent annually

to use a new baggage screening system. The airport has also added

about 450 security employees. The report suggests that John Wayne

Airport officials “take into account” these costs and review the

airport’s budget.

JWA was the only one of 50 large airports required to install the

baggage screening system that did so by the Dec. 31 deadline. Airport

officials have since sought federal reimbursement for the system,

McCarley said.

“Our security has tripled since [Sept. 11, 2001],” she said. “Our

security went from $4 million to over $12 million.”

The report also recommended that the airport keep updating its

procedures for access badges and advanced technology systems.

McCarley said the airport has been working on facial or iris scans

for employees.

As well as Sept. 11, an incident in which two people were shot and

killed at Los Angeles International Airport last July sparked the

grand jury’s investigation into JWA’s security.

The airport has 90 days to respond to the report, McCarley said.

* JAMES MEIER is the city editor. He can be reached at (949)

764-4324 or james.meier@latimes.com.