Captain Mike Hiller

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide responsive and professional service to John Wayne Airport.  We will pro-actively protect lives and property at this facility and respond to all calls for service promptly. In addition to these services we will remain vigilant against threats (foreign or domestic) to ensure the security and safe operation of this facility. All Airport Police Services employees are expected to represent this department and John Wayne Airport in a friendly, helpful, and professional manner.

Core Values

• Integrity without compromise;
• Service above self;
• Professionalism in the performance of duty;
• Vigilance in safeguarding our community.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the Orange County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement and security services at John Wayne Airport. Primary responsibilities include enforcement of applicable laws, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, parking/traffic control and assisting citizens conducting business at the airport.

The Explosives Detection Bureau

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide profession explosive detection services to the travelling public, air carriers, and the Transportation Security Administration at John Wayne Airport. We will be a pro-active deterrent against possible terrorist and criminal activity by being highly visible to the public, potential terrorists, and criminals.  We will spend as much time as possible patrolling in uniform with our canines in the terminal, parking structures, and the secure areas where commercial aircraft operate. We will respond to all calls for service promptly, conduct random and directed bomb sweeps of the terminal area, parking structures, and freight/cargo areas, while maintaining a high level of preparedness through training.

Personnel

The John Wayne Airport Police Services Bureau consists of one Captain, one Lieutenant, seven Sergeants, twelve Deputy Sheriffs, eighty-nine Sheriff's Special Officers, one Office Specialist and one Office Technician. One Narcotics Investigator and three Explosive Detection Teams (comprised of one Deputy Sheriff and one K-9 per team including canines), supplement the staff.

The captain, lieutenant, sergeants, and deputies are all sworn personnel who have completed a basic Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) academy. Upon transfer to the airport, they receive an additional 40 hours of Post Certified training in Aviation Security covering explosives, hazardous materials, illegal narcotics, criminal/security awareness, and FAA regulations. They are responsible for general law enforcement services and the general protection and safety of passengers, visitors and employees.

Sheriff's Special Officers (SSO) are classified peace officers under Penal Code section 830.33, and have completed a POST approved Orange County Sheriff's Department academy program. Upon transfer to the airport they receive an additional 40 hours of Post Certified training in Aviation Security covering explosives, hazardous materials, illegal narcotics, criminal/security awareness, and FAA regulations. Newly assigned Officers spend four weeks with a Field Training Sheriff's Special Officer. Working with deputies they also help provide for the protection and safety of passengers, visitors, employees and airport properties.

A Narcotics Investigator and a narcotics detection canine ("Kirby") provide additional security to the airport making random searches in baggage areas for the detection of drug smuggling and trafficking.

Three Explosive Detection Teams, including canines "Luna", "Rico", and "Jazzy" provide additional support by conducting searches for explosives.

The Office Specialist provides all the clerical support to staff including daily time sheets, statistical reports, supplies and maintenance of office equipment.

The Office Technician provides support to the Office Specialist, as well as processing all lost and found property, and all citations.

2011 Summary of Statistics and Duties Performed

During calendar year 2011, the Airport Police Services Division provided the following services and generated the following activity:

A security violation is any act which compromises the integrity of the Air Operations Area or Security Identification Display Area (SIDA). These violations include a wide variety of incidents, usually associated with perimeter security and unauthorized entry into the Air Operations Area or SIDA area.

Assigned Sheriff's Personnel utilize a combination of foot and vehicle patrol to provide a deterrent factor, as well as a timely response to breaches in security.

Additional monitoring of critical areas is accomplished through the use of alarms and continuous video camera surveillance.

Responding personnel evaluate the circumstances and declare a security violation in incidents where there is evidence of an actual breach of security and/or an attempt to do so.

Weapons at Screening Points

Transportation Security Administration regulations require commercial air carriers to screen passengers for weapons and/or dangerous items, prior to boarding an aircraft.

To facilitate this requirement, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides personnel to staff and operate passenger screening points.

The TSA requires law enforcement officer (LEO) support for these personnel and mandates LEO responses to security points when a weapon or dangerous item is detected.

Generally, Sheriff's Special Officers are the first responders to these calls for assistance, and are assisted by a deputy sheriff if necessary.

Aircraft Incidents

The Federal Aviation Administration classifies responses to aircraft incidents into different category and response levels determined by the size of the aircraft and the severity of the incident.

John Wayne Airport holds an Aircraft Disaster Exercise once a year to practice the response to a full-scale aircraft disaster. In 2005, more than 250 emergency responders participated in an exercise which involved the communication and coordination of a vast amount of responding agencies including the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, American Red Cross and surrounding jurisdictional agencies.

Key elements are tested and evaluated during the exercise by the Federal Aviation Administration.

John Wayne Airport serves approximately 10 million passengers and visitors a year traveling on major airlines. Captain Mike Hiller email: mhiller@ocsd.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Chief of Police Services John Wayne Airport, which is located at 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707. Telephone (949) 252-5260.