Mesa Police Department Airport Unit

The mission of the Mesa Police Department's Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Unit is to provide law enforcement and secure aviation environment through cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Current staffing for the 24-hour/seven-day-a-week unit is 14 aviation certified officers and two aviation certified sergeants. The Mesa K-9 Unit provides Explosive Detection support in the passenger terminal. Officers assigned to airports are commonly referred to as "LEO's" (Law Enforcement Officer) in the aviation community. LEO's at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway are responsible for:

• Security screening alerts
• Traffic accidents, traffic control (including taxi cab/limousine ordinances)
• Security of airport facilities/property, military and civilian aircraft and government tenants
• Respond to, and investigate calls for service on airport property
• Foot and bike patrol of the Air Operations Area (AOA)
• Respond to aircraft accidents and incidents
• Passenger terminal security sweeps
• Monitor U.S. Marshals Service, Arizona Department of Corrections and U.S. Bureau of Prisons "Con-Air" transfers
• Dignitary protection and crowd control
• Investigate suspicious unattended items in terminal, evacuation protocols
• Provide emergency response escorts through the Air Operations Area (AOA)

In addition to typical police duties, officers routinely work with Airport Operation Staff conducting Airfield Safety Inspections, training of personnel, and assist with group tours and special events. The Airport unit trains with Mesa Fire Department's Airfield Rescue Fire fighter (ARFF) unit assigned to the airport. Officers possess knowledge of aviation procedures, federal regulatory requirements and aviation terminology. Officers communicate by radio with the Air Traffic Control Tower, monitor Air Traffic Control Tower frequencies and have the capability to communicate with nearby aircraft. Officers receive hundreds of hours of aviation-related training and must maintain certifications to remain FAA complaint:

• Airfield driving
• TSA operations
• Aviation/Airport security for Law Enforcement
• Terrorism detection and prevention
• Federal laws/regulatory requirements, FAA/TSA mandated security directives and airport certifications
• Airport Security Program and Airport Emergency Management Response
• Airfield Rescue operations with Mesa Fire Department

The Airport Unit coordinates with other governmental agencies including:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force/Airports
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
• Arizona State University/DPS
• U.S. Military

To speak with a unit supervisor, please contact Sgt. Larry Kieser at (480) 644-3667 or Sgt. Chuck Trapani at (480) 644-5086.