THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

APRIL 8, 2010

Los Angeles International Airport...

The calls come in just like those at any big-city police department: drunk and disorderly people, theft and assault, illegally parked cars, medical crises and possible terrorist threats.
But for airport police officers, there are particular challenges. Airports are cities unto themselves, with millions of people and yet no permanent residents. When crimes happen, airport police have to move especially swiftly to get detailed statements from victims or witnesses, many of whom may never return for a court appearance. Within hours they may be on the other side of the world.
"One of the biggest differences is the short amount of time an airport police officer has to decide whether to arrest or not. It's not like a guy goes home down the street and you can arrest him tomorrow," said Paul Mason, chief of police at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and president of Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network (ALEAN), an association of airport police chiefs.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...460495206.html