RD1 - Professionalization of the Virginia Port Authority Police Department


Executive Summary:
Authority Directing the Study

The 1995 Virginia Acts of Assembly, Chapter 853 at page 92, provides:

"The Virginia Port Authority shall prepare a report comparing the cost and benefits of continuing to provide an in-house security force with the costs and benefits of security provided by the private sector. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 1995."

Staff Assigned

Virginia Port Authority (VPA) staff who worked on the study include the Chief of the Port Police, other senior port police personnel, and VPA's General Counsel/Deputy Executive Director for Operations. In addition, previous studies of the Port Police conducted by the Westinghouse Corporation, Research Management Associates, and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services were extensively relied upon.

Executive Summary

The study concludes that there is only one advantage-- short-term cost--of having security on the VPA's marine terminals provided by the private sector as opposed to the security and law enforcement provided by the VPA's certified, sworn police force.

The personnel cost of the VPA Police Department is approximately $2.6 million annually. It is estimated that private, now-sworn security guards could be employed at a cost of approximately $2 million annually.

However, there are a number of benefits associated with the VPA Police which are well worth the additional expense inherent in a fully-certified, sworn police agency as opposed to private security guards.

In 1994, general cargo valued at approximately $24.6 billion crossed the Virginia Port Authority's docks. Losses to thefts were $10 thousand. It is believed that figure constitutes the lowest pilferage rate of any port in the world and is directly attributable to the presence of a professional, certified police force. In addition, since 1990, VPA Police have seized more than 237 pounds of cocaine (hidden in international containers) with a street value of more than $6.6 million.

In 1994, the VPA Police responded to and investigated 70 traffic accidents, 200 accidents involving industrial equipment, and 626 reports of damage to property. Without a VPA Police Department, many of those incidents would have to be investigated by the Virginia State Police.

Previous independent studies, cited in the report, have consistently called for a professional police force. The rationale for that view remains persuasive.