Minneapolis-St. Paul airport faces security shortage

Associated Press

Published May 9, 2002

The Twin Cities airport might not have enough security personnel to replace Minnesota National Guard members due to leave on Friday.

Airport Public Safety Director Jim Welna says the airport is having trouble finding enough replacements for Guard members.

The federal Transportation Security Administration has ordered airports to find law enforcement officers to provide security. But airports are having a hard time filling the order because of a disagreement over who should be liable for the actions of extra law officers hired under contract.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission had planned to hire about 300 officers from state, county and municipal agencies to replace the armed guards who've been on duty since October. But the pool of agencies to recruit from has shrunk.