Hawaii extends airport security contract
The state has 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 Hawaii Department of Transportation, said the state is paying more because costs have increased and Securitas workers have unionized, KHON-TV reported Monday.
The state’s decision to extend the contract comes after company employees were indicted in January for taking bribes at Honolulu 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 has since 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.
17 responses to “Hawaii extends airport security contract”
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D.O.T. does it again?
Department Of Taxation. Hawaii is all about the taxes.
Of course! The people running Hawaii cannot survive without regular bribery of all government branches… But of course everyone knows that…
I always wondered why the government in it’s infinite wisdom never attempted to tap the massive amount of veterans available for this type of work. Make it a government run agency that utilizes the expertise of individuals that are trained and experienced in the ultimate security of our nation and have them work the airports. The method of buying politicians and lobbying for contracts only leads to disaster. Bringing back soldiers into a solid work environment with the ability to use their expertise is in my opinion a no brainer. The transition would be smooth and give us safer airports.Jmo
When 9/11 occurred legislators gave Public Safety 60 spots at the airport. PSD took them and assigned them to newly opened courthouses. To meet Federal security standards and in order for DOT to keep their airport operator’s license they continued to contract security out.
It is cheaper. It is the same company that the State contracted their K9 handlers out before the Sheriff’s took over. Same company where the female K9 handler sued State over sexual harassment and won….court saying contractor must follow same rules as state employee if under state contract.
I’m really surprised this contract was extended!
You rather spend more money by hiring sheriffs? The people who abuse their power of authority the most second to some HPD officers?
Just another security company. Securitas has been there too long already.
Yes 10 years, another 3 and 2 more negotiable for 15 at the end of this new one. Politics, kick back, friends in high places and state can recover expense from Feds if they assign an armed Leo at the checked point through grant… best kept secret. That’s because the state hired a former Federal Security Director from TSA whom is good friends with as former Police chief that runs securitas.
Low info jobs in Hawaii, to match the low information education system in Hawaii.
Ummm, why don’t they get a less expensive vendor? Many reputable security companies are not unionized and thusly would be less expensive to contract.
They tried, out bidded, state not take low bidder the this time. Guards formed a Union, started with outside Islands.
Game they play at the airport during midnight shift, required post that needs to be filled, guard calls sick(like prison guards), they do a call back, pay replacement for 8(actually works only 3… is a day shift guy), bills state for 8 hrs because post is required or airport could loose airport operators licence. When audited shows guard on post. State then recovers from Feds through Fed grant.
Oh oh. I’m seeing another fine that will need to be paid for by the taxpayers. I’m sure the culprits will get a slap on the wrist at the maximum.
More like the games management plays.
We would not need a union if management played fair.
Just another of thousands of examples showing the utter incompetence in charge of our backwards DoT. Tim failed to say why DoT failed to rebid the contract to see if a lower price was available. Just working the process would have forced Securitas to lower their costs to remain competitive.
Sad to say it is this type of willful incompetence by the state which takes more money from taxpayers, wasting it everywhere.
Just another day in the little 8th world of Hawaii Nei. So laughable.