Hawaii extends airport security contract

HONOLULU (AP) — The state extended a contract with a private company that provides security at Hawaii’s airports despite recent allegations of bribery against four of the company’s employees.

The new three-year contract includes a $6 million pay increase for Securitas and takes effect this week. Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, said the state is paying more because costs increased and Securitas workers unionized.

The state’s decision to extend the contract comes after the employees were indicted in January for taking bribes at Honolulu International Airport. The men are accused of soliciting and accepting more than $3,000 in bribes from taxi and shuttle drivers at the airport. In exchange, the drivers were allowed to circumvent the airport’s ground transportation rules.

The state since has been criticized for hiring a private company to secure Hawaii’s 11 airports instead of using sheriff’s deputies.

But Sakahara said hiring deputies would be more expensive and that the department is satisfied with the company’s performance. Securitas has been working for the state since 2004.

“Tens of millions of passengers have come through the airports since that time and there’s been no major incidents involving those passengers, so they’ve done overall a very positive job for Hawaii,” Sakahara said.

He would not comment about the bribery charges, citing pending litigation.

Securitas has officers who provide security and manage traffic. Some of the company’s employees are trained law enforcement officers who can carry weapons and make arrests.

Sakahara said Securitas employees undergo a screening process and must have relevant experience.

“They have to have two years of experience with a bona fide law enforcement agency. They also have three background checks just to get on with Securitas and a drug-screening test,” Sakahara said.

The new contract also includes an option for the state to hire the company for another two years.