The Board of Port Commissioners has approved a resolution accepting a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Grant for the Harbor Police Department's Canine Explosives Detection Team Program.
The grant, in the amount of $1,262,500, was officially accepted at the December 9, 2014 Board of Port Commissioners meeting. It will allow funding to continue for the program which provides explosives detection services at San Diego International Airport and Port of San Diego tideland areas. Funding will cover the period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019.
Consisting of five Harbor Police officers who are partnered with five explosives-sniffing canines, the Harbor Police Department's Canine Explosives Detection Team is the largest canine explosives detection unit in San Diego County.
The team assists primarily at San Diego International Airport, working closely with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and the Transportation Security Administration to provide safety for air travelers. In addition, the team is available to respond to incidents throughout San Diego County through a mutual aid agreement.
"The Port of San Diego is grateful to the Transportation Security Administration for continuing to fund this very important program," said Mark Stainbrook, Acting Chief of the Harbor Police. "The grant supports the Harbor Police Department's Canine Explosives Detection Team's aviation and homeland security missions, thereby promoting a safe and secure environment at the airport and Port of San Diego areas."
The Harbor Police Department's canine team was first formed in 1997 after the San Diego County Sheriff's Department withdrew from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Explosives Detection Program because of increased costs. Funding became available in 1997 to expand the canine team program, and the Port entered into an agreement with the FAA to participate. In 2008, the TSA became the new administrator of the program, and the Port signed a second cooperative agreement with the agency.
About the Port:
The Port of San Diego is a unified district encompassing five member cities surrounding San Diego Bay. A public agency, the Port is charged by the State of California with developing the tidelands and commercial business as steward of the public-trust tidelands along 34 miles of San Diego Bay. We share the waterfront with the Navy, which oversees 17 miles of San Diego Bay.
We operate under the Public Trust Doctrine, which specifies that these waterways and waterfronts are primarily reserved for water-dependent uses such as fishing, cargo activity, bay tours and recreational access such as hotels and restaurants; as well as environmental and natural-habitat preservation.
We have guided the development of this prime waterfront property with a carefully selected portfolio of world-class commercial real estate, maritime and public uses. Our 16 hotels, 25 marinas, numerous restaurants, tours and museum attractions operate side-by-side with a working waterfront of boatyards, sportfishing landings and marine cargo terminals. We also maintain 20 public parks as amenities that attract visitors and enhance the value of our waterfront.