Existing law establishes categories of peace officers with varying powers and authority to make arrests and carry firearms. Existing law provides that a person who is employed as an airport law enforcement officer is a peace officer whose authority extends to any place in the state for the purpose of enforcing the law in or about the properties owned, operated, and administered by the peace officer’s employing agency or when making an arrest if there is immediate danger to a person or property, or of an escape of the perpetrator of an offense. Existing law authorizes this category of peace officer to carry a firearm.
This bill, if the Los Angeles Police Commission and the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners enter into an agreement to enable the Inspector General of the Los Angeles Police Commission to conduct audits and investigations of the Los Angeles Airport Police Division, on or before April 1, 2014, would place an airport law enforcement officer regularly employed by Los Angeles World Airports, as defined, within a different category of peace officers whose authority extends to any place in the state without the above restrictions as to arrest powers and with the authority to carry specified firearms.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the
City of Los Angeles, relating to law enforcement at the Los Angeles International Airport.