San Jose Airport Considers Hiring Outside Security To Cut Costs
SAN JOSE (KCBS)- Mineta San Jose International Airport officials are considering a controversial move to cut security costs.
The airport is looking at the possibility of hiring private personnel to replace city police and firefighters, but no final decision has been made yet.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
[09:27]
San Jose International spokesman David Vossbrink said the airport must reduce expenses in order to be competitive.
"Now that we have a beautiful new airport, we need to get flights back," said Vossbrink.
One option, he said, could be to replace the 41 police officers and 12 firefighters currently deployed at the airport.
"We estimate, based on our scan of the industry, that we could probably reduce our public safety cost by about $10 million a year from where we are now."
Vossbrink added that airport officials are pleased with the work done by police and firefighters, but the cost is the issue.
Meanwhile, San Jose's public safety unions have raised concern about the idea.
According to George Beattie, President of the San Jose Police Officers Association, "It has more to do about a business model that saves money than it does about providing the proper security for men and women that fly out of the airport."
Airport officials could bring their ideas to the San Jose City Council in April.
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