The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The Virginia Port Authority's cost-cutting reorganization of security and law enforcement at its shipping terminals has begun.
The authority announced that 24 sworn port police officers, including Chief Andrew Engemann, accepted early retirement buyouts. The Port Authority expects to lay off roughly 18 more port police officers, though that number might decrease because of attrition, said Joe Harris, an authority spokesman.
The roughly 25 police officers remaining will be teamed with about 40 private security contractors, along with a number of dispatchers and non-sworn administrative staff.
The Port Authority has extended a contract with Securitas, a global security company, to provide unarmed guards to handle routine tasks such as staffing terminal gates. The company has provided such services at APM Terminals in Portsmouth, which the Port Authority leased in July 2010.
The expanded contract will cost $2 million a year and be renewable every December.
Port police will continue enforcing laws within the authority's terminals in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Front Royal.
Port officials have said that security at the terminals won't be harmed by the changes.
Engemann, who has served as chief since 2006, will be succeeded by port police Capt. Michael Brewer on Feb. 1. Engemann said Tuesday that he will stay on to help with the transition, retiring on May 1. He declined to comment further.
In October, after the cuts were first announced, he said that if asked to lay off officers, he would step down.
Harris said the pending layoffs will be announced Feb. 1 and completed by May 31.
The estimated savings from the police staff cutbacks is between $1 million and $2 million annually, starting in fiscal year 2013, according to the Port Authority. Port police officers are paid an average $40,587 a year.
Three other Port Authority employees also accepted the early retirement offer. As of September, the authority had 126 employees - 84 in law enforcement, including support staff, and 42 others.
The cost cutting comes in the wake of Gov. Bob McDonnell's overhaul of the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners. He replaced all but one of the commissioners in July.
Robert McCabe, 757-446-2327, robert.mccabe@pilotonline.com
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Virginia's Ports
Well now since the SECURITY at Virginia's Ports has gone straight to HELL thanks to Uncle Bob. I guess anybody will be able to get on now. He needs to hurry up and leave office because he is Destroying this State.
Virginia's Ports
Well now since the SECURITY at Virginia's Ports has gone straight to HELL thanks to Uncle Bob. I guess anybody will be able to get on now. He needs to hurry up and leave office because he is Destroying this State.
Virginia's Ports
Well now since the SECURITY at Virginia's Ports has gone straight to HEll thanks to Uncle Bob. I guess anybody will be able to get on now. He needs to hurry up and leave office because he is Destroying this State.
Dispatch, this is Sargent. Stedenko.
We've gone from a code three, direct pursuit of subject to a code 3.7.
Completely lost due to incompetence.
I've hauled containers out
I've hauled containers out of our local ports for 6 yrs. and never see these port police doing more than guarding a security booth or acting as a weight to hold down a seat in said booth--no great loss. As for the company that's gonna do security, Securitas, at APM terminals in Portsmouth all they do is harassment of the truck drivers. I had one look at the engine compartment of my truck and admitted he wouldn't know a suspicious item there if he had his hand on it. Plainly put, both of these outfits are one step away from uselessness, neither one could find a flea in the SPCA's kennel area. As another commenter said, its got all the potential for a great comedy.
Can't make this stuff up
Rent-a-cops to protect a major
east coast port from terrorism.
Yep...I see a new comedy movie
in the works here.