After cutting through a fence on Vanowen Street on the south end of the runways, vandals struck Van Nuys Airport (VNY) on the night of December 27 by spray-painting graffiti on three jets parked outside. An airport employee noticed the damage and notified the Los Angeles Airport Police, which has a permanent force based at VNY.
There was another such incident in 2012, when the perpetrator climbed a fence near the Sherman Way tunnel and vandalized a Learjet. According to VNY Police officer Rob Pedregon, after the 2012 incident “there were adjustments made to mitigate any future circumstances.” He could not provide information about the number of officers on duty at the time of the recent incident or the exact measures taken after the 2012 incident, citing “security aspects.” He added that “initial reports are that everything is cosmetic,” and the damage estimate is roughly $3,500 per airplane. A spokesman for Fair Wind Air Charter, which operates one of the airplanes that was vandalized, a GIV, said, “They didn’t do any real damage,” and that the high quality of the GIV’s paint simplifies removal of the graffiti.
Security Wake-up Call
The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association (LAAPOA), which represents the airport police, told AIN in an email, “The chief of police removed officers and/or downgraded personnel several years ago at VNY. This was previous to the recent breach in security. LAAPOA has been fighting to get these officers back at the airport,” according to an LAAPOA spokeswoman. “LAAPOA believes that we need additional officers at VNY, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country. The same security issues that exist at LAX exist at VNY and need the same attention to law enforcement and public safety. Security experts have already highlighted that general aviation airports are just as vulnerable to terrorist threats and activities.”
The association recommends higher fencing that is reinforced, double fencing and more technology to prevent intruders from gaining access to VNY. “Public safety at airports needs to be a proactive and priority issue,” the spokeswoman added. “Minimizing these breaches and sweeping them under the rug until something disastrous happens is not the way to do business at our airports when there are commonsense, practical solutions to mitigate perimeter intrusions and fortify airport security,” she said.
Four new officers joined the airport police on December 23. The force employs more than 1,100 police officers, security officers and civilian staff to protect Los Angeles International, LA/Ontario International and VNY.
Los Angeles Airport Police chief Patrick Gannon was quoted in a Los Angeles Times article after the incident: “It is embarrassing. It is not something we want to be happening at our airports.”