Police back patrolling airport

Yakima Air Terminal was facing an April 1 federal deadline to replace the airport's private security service, and just barely made it. Yakima police were expected to start their first shift at 4:30 this morning despite not having a signed, written agreement with airport officials.

"There are some contract language issues but we've worked that out," said Officer Rich Fowler, a negotiator for the Yakima Police Patrolmen's Association. "It's a good opportunity for guys in the union."

Last year, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, the agency that oversees airport security nationwide, told airport officials that the government would no longer reimburse Yakima's costs for use of private security guards because they had no arrest powers. Yakima Air Terminal stopped using the security service in January.

TSA officials in Spokane said that had Yakima not found a suitable replacement for security, the airport could have lost not just the reimbursement money, but also possibly faced fines.

"They would have been in violation of federal law if a law enforcement presence was not established," said Eric Meyer, a TSA Spokane manager. "It is possible the airport could have been shut down, but that's the worst-case scenario.

Yakima Air Terminal Manager Buck Taylor said the airport and the Yakima patrolmen's association had come to a verbal agreement in early March; however, the association was hesitant to sign because of questions about who would be responsible for the liability of the off-duty officers working at the airport. Taylor said the airport could not assume liability as an employer because, technically, the officers will not be working directly for the airport. Their wages will be paid by TSA.

"That's something the union and the city have to figure out, but we have a memorandum of understanding," Taylor said. "The YPPA has been working hard on this and we're fine with our side of the agreement."

Under the contract, the Air Terminal will have one uniformed police officer on duty for most of the day -- from early morning until late evening when flights are scheduled.

Attorneys for the Yakima patrolmen's association were still going over the agreement Monday afternoon because of the liability language. But Fowler said police were committed to working terminal duty "seven days a week, 365 days a year."

The last time Yakima police worked security at the airport was for a two-year period after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, the airport later determined that it could not afford the police union's overtime rates of $50 to $70 per hour and switched to a private security firm, Corporate Security Enforcement of Yakima.

Fowler said the Yakima patrolmen's association agreed to work for less than union rates at the air terminal because the work would be beneficial for officers seeking consistent off-duty employment.

Fowler did not say how much officers would be getting paid, but airport officials said previously that it would be less than the $30 per hour Corporate Security was being paid. The TSA lowered its reimbursement rate this year.

"This was cutting it way too close, coming down to the 11th hour like this. But it is what it is," Taylor said.