1946-1959
The Los Angeles Airport Police traces its beginnings to 1946, when the Los Angeles Airport was transferred from the War Department to the City of Los Angeles. (The airport was later known informally as “Los Angeles Jetport,” finally becoming “Los Angeles International Airport,” with the three-letter IATA designator of “LAX.”) Six armed “Airport Guards” and one supervisor were hired to provide physical security over City properties.
The number expanded to nine in 1949, the same year that the officers were re-classified as “Special Officers” of the City of Los Angeles. The Special Officers were armed and worked for the Operations Bureau under the direction of the on-duty Superintendent of Operations.
Read more about this topic: Los Angeles Airport Police, Early History