LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Chief of Los Angeles Airport Police Bernard J. Wilson received an Executive Certificate from the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). It is the highest level of certification awarded by the agency to a California police chief or sheriff following completion of rigorous education, training and testing at the law enforcement executive level.
The presentation was made today by Greg Murphy from the POST executive office at a regular meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners.
POST fosters professionalism in law enforcement by recognizing achievement in education, training, and experience through its professional certification program. The program seeks to raise the level of competence of law enforcement personnel and to foster cooperation among the POST Commission, agencies, organizations, jurisdictions and individuals.
A City of Los Angeles employee for 30 years, Wilson was appointed chief of Airport Police in April 1999. At the same time, he was designated to hold the federally-mandated position of Airport Security Coordinator for LAX. In both roles, he is responsible for physical security of the six-square- mile airport facility with a total population of travelers, non-traveling visitors and airport workers estimated at over 140 million annually. Chief Wilson has served as a key decision-maker for numerous major crisis incidents, including aircraft crashes, labor disputes, bomb threats, natural disasters, industrial accidents, terrorist incidents and major crime events. As an instructor in aviation security, terrorism and traveler victimization, Chief Wilson has instructed hundreds of police and security officers from around the world.
In addition to meeting the requirements for the Executive Certificate, Chief Wilson earlier earned the POST Supervisory Certificate and the POST Management Certificate.
He also has been awarded the California Commendation Medal from the State of California Military Department; the Leadership Award from the International Association of Airport & Seaport Police; and been named an Honorary Special Agent from the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Chief Wilson is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Airport & Seaport Police, International Counter-Terrorism Officers Association, International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network, American Association of Airport Executives, American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, and the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Chief Wilson, individually and with Gregory Murphy of the California Police Officer Standards & Training executive office, are available from LAX Public Relations at 310-646-5260.)