Passengers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) claim they’ve seen police officers working on laptops, reading newspapers, even doing a crossword puzzle while on the job, according to a published report.
A four-month investigation by KNX 1070 revealed the complaints levied against the armed law enforcement agents who are monitoring security checkpoints for travelers in LAX.
The report posted online includes a memo from then-Los Angeles Assistant Police Chief Frank Febraga informing supervisors of some of the reports.
“These complaint are embarrassing to the organization, and erode the professionalism of Airport Police,” the memo states.
The memo seems to refer to several reports over a few months and references the department's policy regarding podium detail stating "...officers shall not use cell phones or other communication devices, including text messaging, unless it is an emergency... officers may not use or watch laptop computers, portable televisions or any size DVD players or other electronic devices."
“When you have a member of management, at a high level of management, issues this statement, this directive, this piece of paper that there’s a problem, you need to respond to that appropriately,” said LA City Councilmember and former police officer Dennis Zine.
LAX management told KNX they could not find evidence of the allegations.
“We have not been able to find any of those complaint letters or emails,” the airport director Gina Marie Lindsey told KNX. “However, it’s always good for our supervisors to remind our folks what they need to do. What their priority concentrations need to be.”
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @nbcsandiego or add your comment to our Facebook page.
