Shhhh....Port Security May Go Private
Port Everglades security may undergo some major changes
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OMAHA, NE - DECEMBER 8: Security guards talk while working at the Westroads Mall December 8, 2007 in Omaha, Nebraska. Westroads Mall reopened to customers for the first time today after Robert A. Hawkins killed eight people before taking his own life with a semi-automatic rifle at the Von Maur Department Store Wednesday. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
Private security guards may replace Broward Sheriff’s Office workers at Port Everglades. It’s a money-saving measure being proposed by port director Phillip Allen.
“We need to maintain security here at the port but you don't necessarily need to do that with uniform personnel or sworn personnel”, explained Allen.
220 people work at the port. 55 BSO deputies are employed there and so are 70 community service aides. Many of the aides work the security checkpoints. According to Allen, replacing them with private security guards would save about two million dollars.
That's the goal - to save some of the port's 80-million dollar operating budget. Before the 9-11 terrorist attacks the security budget at the port was in the four million dollar range. Now it's up to some 25 million dollars.
“We have the highest security costs in the state already, anything we can do to spend that money smarter makes sense”, said Allen.
Allen is also considering eliminating sworn deputies from the port. He's not worried that privatizing some of the security functions would compromise safety. But Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl is.
“I do have concerns about security being compromised and that's why I’m not yet convinced this proposal is the right thing to do,” said the mayor.
Keechl and Broward Commissioners will decide this issue when they approve the port's budget in September.
