TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an Other Transaction Agreement and any related documents for the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, and any subsequent amendments, with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to implement and deploy certified canine teams on-site at the Long Beach Airport using Long Beach Police Officers; and to accept the anticipated award, in an estimated amount of $606,000 for a four-year period; and increase appropriations in the Airport Fund (EF 320) in the Airport Department (AP) for $151,500 for the first year of the program in FY 16. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP) began as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Explosives Detection Canine Program in 1972 and transferred to TSA after the events of September 11, 2001 (9/11). TSA's NEDCTP is currently the largest explosives detection canine program in the Department of Homeland Security, with 997 funded National Explosives Detection Canine teams currently stationed at more than 100 of the Nation's airports, mass transit, and cargo environments. The success of TSA's NEDCTP is a prime example of federal, state, and local govemmental entities working together with a common goal: to protect the transportation domain and the public.
On April 13,2016, the TSA NEDCTP officially invited the Long Beach Airport (Airport) to participate in the program. Under the terms of the program, the TSA NEDCTP provides training for three Law Enforcement Officers to become handlers of certified explosive detection canines. Specially trained and certified canines are provided at no-cost and assigned to handlers. After training and certification, the teams (handler and canine) will be deployed at the Airport for daily patrol and citywide call-outs, limited to program restrictions. Annual testing and recertification of the teams are required to rein...
Click here for full text