Airport Division

 Airport Division

Since 1973 the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office has been the primary law enforcement presence at General Mitchell International Airport (GMIA). The Airport Division operates seven days a week / 24-hours a day.

The Sheriff's Office responsibilities include, but are not limited to, safety and security of the airport complex. The complex, over 2,100 acres, consists of a main terminal building, the International Arrivals Building, numerous private businesses, rental car agencies, private airplane hangers, the 440th Air Force Reserve Unit and the Air Refueling Wing. There are millions of dollars worth of private and commercial aircraft and other related equipment located at the airport. GMIA also has a newly expanded parking structure with over 14,000 parking slots as well as five remote and surface lots. The Sheriff's Office also patrols the city streets surrounding the airport performing law enforcement functions and meeting the needs of the community.

Each day Sheriff's Office staff work in concert with personnel from other agencies and businesses at GMIA: Airport Operations, the Transportation Security. Administration, the airport fire department, airlines, independent business and most of all, the public.

 EXPLOSIVES DETECTION K9 TEAM PROGRAM

The Federal Aviation Administration Explosives Detection K9 Teams Program started with 40 canine teams at 20 airports across the county in 1973. Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program includes 63 airports and over 250 K9 teams.

In January of 1986, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office signed a cooperative agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration and established their first Explosives Detection K9 Team. Currently, four Federally certified Explosives Detection K-9 Teams are located at the General Mitchell International Airport on behalf of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and the Transportation Security Administration. The Explosives Detection K-9 teams are used to deter and detect the introduction of explosive devices into the transportation system at the General Mitchell International Airport. The Explosives Detection K-9 teams are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Since January of 2002, 100% of the airlines and rental car agencies providing services at the General Mitchell International Airport used the Transportation Security Administration Explosives Detection K9 teams. In addition, General Mitchell International Airport Operations and Administration, Traveler's Aid, the Security Checkpoints, the 440th Airforce Base, the Milwaukee County Airport Fire Department, Visitor's Information, Host International, Mitchell Café, Federal Express and Starbucks have also used the Explosives Detection K-9 teams.

The Explosives Detection K-9 teams have provided Mutual Aid to local, state and federal agencies throughout Wisconsin. K-9 demonstrations are offered and may be requested through the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office – Airport Bureau Captain or through the Sheriff's Office Community Relations Manager. Demonstrations include a general history of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office K-9 program, the Transportation Security Administration's mission, K9 detection training and K-9 certification.

Since 2000, the use of Explosives Detection K9 teams has increased dramatically. In the year 2000, only 85% of the airlines providing services at the General Mitchell International Airport used the K-9 teams compared to 100% during 2001 and 2002.

In May of 2003, Explosives Detection K-9 Grim was the first police K-9 to participate in the local Law Enforcement Torch Run.