New state-of-the-art police headquarters opens at LAX

The Los Angeles Airport Police Division (APD) has a new centralised headquarters that will foster interagency collaboration and innovation for decades to come.

The $216-million Airport Police Facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officially opened yesterday with a ceremony led by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

It consolidates police operations from eight standalone buildings that were separated across six miles at the US gateway.

LAX operator, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), notes that consolidating these operations into one location, with the latest technology and tools, “will improve communication and coordination among the many law-enforcement entities that operate at LAX and Van Nuys (VNY) airport”.

“LAX is where we greet travellers from around the world, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they feel safe, protected, and welcome,” said Mayor Garcetti.

“This new state-of-the-art facility will ensure our airport is prepared to meet the needs of 21st century travel and provide a seamless, world-class experience for millions of passengers.”

The purpose-built structure includes a 160,000-square-foot headquarters building, a 960-stall parking structure and a series of new indoor and outdoor functional spaces for APD’s more than 1,100 sworn officers, security and civilian employees.

The three-story headquarters building includes command staff offices, briefing rooms, classrooms, a gymnasium and locker rooms, fleet services and K-9 facilities.

The new complex facility houses the Office of Operations, Office of Support Services, Office of Homeland Security & Intelligence, Emergency Service Unit, Traffic & Security Group, Bomb Disposal Unit and K-9 Unit and is located on 12 acres at the northeast corner of Westchester Parkway and Loyola Boulevard.

“Our new Airport Police Facility is far more than just a police station – it’s a game-changing facility that will improve how our police division collaborates and innovates to ensure the safety of our passengers and employees,” enthused LAWA CEO, Justin Erbacci.

“For the 1,100 sworn officers, security guards and civilian employees at LAWA, this new facility means having the right space, tools and next-generation technology all in one place to provide world-class service to our guests and employees.”

A mural by artist Francisco Letelier, titled “Into the Blue,” will be installed early next year on a wall facing Loyola Boulevard.

LAWA notes that its new Airport Police Facility includes many sustainability features, such as dual-piping for future recycled water use and the maximum-size solar system that can be installed on the headquarters building.

The airport says that complex and parking structure, equipped with 33 electric vehicle chargers, was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the US Green Building Council.

• All images of new Airport Police Facility courtesy of LAWA/Joshua Sudock.