HEBRON — Camouflage-clad Kentucky National Guardsmen with sidearms were at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for the first time Friday, giving passengers a stone-faced greeting at security checkpoints.

        The guardsmen will be a fixture at the airport here and at airports around the country to aid in security in the wake of the Sept. 11 hijackings and terrorist attacks. "

        What was not clear Friday, as guardsmen and airport security officials held a joint press conference in Terminal 1 to introduce the new security arrangement, was exactly what role the guardsmen will be fulfilling.

Members of the Kentucky National Guard walk between terminals Friday at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “That is security-specific and I can't talk about it,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Hogan, a guard officer from Hebron, to repeated questions about what the guard would do. “We are here to provide assistance to the existing authorities.”

        Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton called 35 Kentucky National Guardsmen to duty earlier this week after a call from President Bush for the states to provide 5,000 to 6,000 guardsmen to help with security at commercial airports in the U.S.

        The Ohio National Guard deployed 104 guardsmen — about half from a military police company headquartered in Middletown — to six airports in Ohio.

        The Ohio guardsmen have less of a combat look to them, wearing civilian style uniforms instead of fatigues. But guardsmen from both states will be carrying 9 mm pistols.

        The guardsmen are expected to be a presence in U.S. airports for at least several months. Col. Hogan declined to say how long his men would be posted at the Cincinnati airport or whether they would eventually be replaced by other guardsmen.

        “All I can say is we will be here a sufficient time to do the job,” Col. Hogan said.

        Lt. Col. Phil Miller, a spokesman for the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, said the guard will be stationed just beyond security checkpoints to monitor passenger screening at security.

        Friday, a lone guardsmen stood watch just behind the metal detectors as airport security people screened passengers at the Terminal 1 checkpoint.

        Steve Hollister, a Chicagoan headed home on a US Airways flight, said the guardsman's presence “looks odd,” but is probably a good thing.

        “I think it will be comforting to a lot of people,” Mr. Hollister said.

        The 20 guardsmen at the Cincinnati airport apparently will have no arrest powers and no part in the actual physical inspection of passengers and baggage.

        Airport police Chief Chuck Melville said only his officers would have arrest powers.

        “Our people will handle arrests,” said Chief Melville. “What (the guard) does or doesn't do is a matter for them to answer.”

        Chief Melville would not say how many police officers the airport has, but said he is grateful for the guard's assistance.

        In addition to having the guardsmen present, the Cincinnati airport has hired 25 “public safety assistants” who will handle traffic control and passenger assistance duties outside terminals. Chief Melville said that would free up sworn police officers for duty inside the terminals.

        “One of our problems in the last few weeks has been having enough people, covering all the shifts,” Chief Melville said. “This will help alleviate that.”

        The public safety assistants will be able to ticket cars that are parked illegally around the terminals, but will not be armed and will have no arrest powers.

        “There will be sworn officers nearby if they are needed,” the chief said.

        Joe Weil, airport security coordinator, said airline passengers can expect to see more security changes in the months and years to come.

        “All I can tell you is that everything is on the table, security-wise, when it comes to protecting airports and passengers,” Mr. Weil said.

        Federal aviation officials are looking at improved technology for screening baggage. Some new technology — such as the face recognition systems that are being tested at two U.S. airports — are likely to become common features at all airports, Mr. Weil said.

        Having enough manpower to cover security checkpoints, Mr. Weil said, is “the biggest problem we face.”

        “Personally, I think (airport security screening) should be federalized, to a certain extent,” Mr. Weil said.
       

Building the new Reds ballpark requires major league precision
Guardsmen on duty at airport
New runway's effects listed
City's bill for lawyer over limit
Arson likely in barn fires
City race issues analyzed
Man sentenced to 65 years in killing
Paideia schools rank low
Proof city's settling down: mayor monitors football
Tristate A.M. Report
UC hunts for spots to trim
Web site provides tax levy figures
Workers thought photos OK
SAMPLES: The Point
Antiques show back in old home
School adds adviser for kids
Transcribing fee called 'exorbitant'
Area emergency workers reflect on 9-11
Districts differ over funding
Education theme: 'Go Higher'
Harlan bids farewell to National Guard troops
Kentucky News Briefs
Oil tanks probably polluting
Public's wishes to be in park plans
Rescuers' fate hits hard
State faces possibility of more budget cuts