07-02-2007, 09:32 PM
No speeding tickets at KSC
Security ordered not to issue state citations on federal property
BY PATRICK PETERSON
FLORIDA TODAY ADVERTISEMENT
Enlarge this image
KSC asset. Kennedy Space Center officials say undeputizing the security officers is an effort to put the focus on protecting KSC assets, including the Vehicle Assembly Building where the components of the space shuttle are assembled. AP file image.
Tickets issued at space center
Traffic violations issued at Kennedy Space Center: 2007May 43 April 38 March 44 February 52 January 63 2006December 64 November 98 October 137 September 57 August 59 July N/A June 93
-- Brevard County Clerk of Court
CAPE CANAVERAL - Deputized Kennedy Space Center security officers have been ordered not to issue state traffic tickets to spaceport workers caught speeding on the government compound.
About 22 deputized security officers, employed by contractor Space Gateway Support, were told in a May 22 memo from center director Bill Parsons' office they could only give speeding motorists a less-severe KSC ticket. Those tickets must be signed by the worker's supervisor and returned, but carry no fine or other penalties.
County court records show 43 Florida Uniform Traffic Citations were handed out in May. The number of state tickets issued peaked at 138 in October before beginning to fall.
"It's an authority issue. We're not here to enforce state law," space center director of external relations Lisa Malone said of the private security force, some of whom have been deputized by the county sheriff as law enforcement officers. "They should pay attention to protecting NASA assets."
NASA officials have met twice with Sheriff Jack Parker about undeputizing the 22 security officers, who alone have authority to issue state citations on the government installation. The total spaceport security force is about 320 officers, who are authorized to carry weapons.
"Everybody's up in arms," International Union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America President Jerry Heyman said. "You've taken away the officers' discretion."
Union officials believe the action is intended to reduce the number of speeding tickets written to KSC workers and officials. The original May memo, which was labeled an "avoid verbal order," allowed deputized officers to issue state tickets to non-badged drivers on the base. That meant visitors, vendors and contract employees without permanent KSC badges would have been subject to harsher speeding tickets with fines and potential increases in automobile insurance premiums.
"The biggest part of this is that we're treating KSC people differently than we're treating other people," Heyman said in early June. "It's pretty clear."
Since the initial memo, however, security officers have been directed not to issue state citations to anyone, Malone said.
KSC officials say undeputizing the security officers is an effort to put the focus on protecting KSC assets.
"There's no federal mandate to authorize us to enforce state statutes" on KSC property, NASA spokesman Bill Johnson said.
Johnson said the space center's chief counsel, Jerald Stubbs, believes the contracted security force is not legally allowed to issue Florida Uniform Traffic Citations on the federal compound, even though they have been doing so for 42 years. The majority of the tickets were issued on roads outside the KSC security gates but still on federal government property, Malone said.
"Stubbs said we were enforcing state statue without authorization," Johnson said.
If Parker undeputizes the security officers, they will maintain the ability to detain individuals and hold them until they are picked up by sheriff's deputies. As far as traffic enforcement goes, the security officers would only be able to issue the less-severe KSC speeding tickets.
"People are still being pulled over," Malone said. "If there is a situation where we needed to detain someone, we could do that until the Brevard Sheriff's (Office) comes out to pick them up."
No date has been set for the cancellation of deputy status. "Since we have advised the sheriff we are no longer going to sponsor the program, it'll be up to the sheriff to undeputize them," Johnson said.
After a meeting last week with space center officials, the sheriff said undeputizing the KSC security officers would raise the price of law enforcement because he'd have to reassign deputies to take over tasks performed by the KSC officers.
"The sheriff made it real clear that the local taxpayer is not going to be burdened," said sheriff's department spokesman Cmdr. Joe Ambrose. He said Parker likes the 42-year-old deputy program.
"We haven't even gotten official word that they've gotten rid of the program. We've been kind of (blind-sided) by all of this," Ambrose said. "The sheriff supports the program as it stands. We haven't seen any issues."
NASA officials have not explained the reason behind their desire to undeputize the officers and rely on sheriff's deputies for law enforcement, Ambrose said. There is no plan for patrolling the miles of roadway between the KSC gates and the boundary of federal property.
"We haven't got a good, clear answer on that," said Ambrose, who added the sheriff has asked KSC for a proposal for the reassignment of duties and authority. "Until we get some clarification on this, it's going to be business as usual with them. I don't want the deputies at KSC to think we don't support them, because we do."
Additionally, the orders issued in late May prohibit security officers from carrying firearms when attending court and from pursuing anyone beyond the space center's boundaries. That could include pursuing someone who sped through the exit gate. Union officials have advised the deputized officers to use caution and follow orders.
"We told them not to stoop to taking any action or inaction, other than being professional," Heyman said.
Security ordered not to issue state citations on federal property
BY PATRICK PETERSON
FLORIDA TODAY ADVERTISEMENT
Enlarge this image
KSC asset. Kennedy Space Center officials say undeputizing the security officers is an effort to put the focus on protecting KSC assets, including the Vehicle Assembly Building where the components of the space shuttle are assembled. AP file image.
Tickets issued at space center
Traffic violations issued at Kennedy Space Center: 2007May 43 April 38 March 44 February 52 January 63 2006December 64 November 98 October 137 September 57 August 59 July N/A June 93
-- Brevard County Clerk of Court
CAPE CANAVERAL - Deputized Kennedy Space Center security officers have been ordered not to issue state traffic tickets to spaceport workers caught speeding on the government compound.
About 22 deputized security officers, employed by contractor Space Gateway Support, were told in a May 22 memo from center director Bill Parsons' office they could only give speeding motorists a less-severe KSC ticket. Those tickets must be signed by the worker's supervisor and returned, but carry no fine or other penalties.
County court records show 43 Florida Uniform Traffic Citations were handed out in May. The number of state tickets issued peaked at 138 in October before beginning to fall.
"It's an authority issue. We're not here to enforce state law," space center director of external relations Lisa Malone said of the private security force, some of whom have been deputized by the county sheriff as law enforcement officers. "They should pay attention to protecting NASA assets."
NASA officials have met twice with Sheriff Jack Parker about undeputizing the 22 security officers, who alone have authority to issue state citations on the government installation. The total spaceport security force is about 320 officers, who are authorized to carry weapons.
"Everybody's up in arms," International Union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America President Jerry Heyman said. "You've taken away the officers' discretion."
Union officials believe the action is intended to reduce the number of speeding tickets written to KSC workers and officials. The original May memo, which was labeled an "avoid verbal order," allowed deputized officers to issue state tickets to non-badged drivers on the base. That meant visitors, vendors and contract employees without permanent KSC badges would have been subject to harsher speeding tickets with fines and potential increases in automobile insurance premiums.
"The biggest part of this is that we're treating KSC people differently than we're treating other people," Heyman said in early June. "It's pretty clear."
Since the initial memo, however, security officers have been directed not to issue state citations to anyone, Malone said.
KSC officials say undeputizing the security officers is an effort to put the focus on protecting KSC assets.
"There's no federal mandate to authorize us to enforce state statutes" on KSC property, NASA spokesman Bill Johnson said.
Johnson said the space center's chief counsel, Jerald Stubbs, believes the contracted security force is not legally allowed to issue Florida Uniform Traffic Citations on the federal compound, even though they have been doing so for 42 years. The majority of the tickets were issued on roads outside the KSC security gates but still on federal government property, Malone said.
"Stubbs said we were enforcing state statue without authorization," Johnson said.
If Parker undeputizes the security officers, they will maintain the ability to detain individuals and hold them until they are picked up by sheriff's deputies. As far as traffic enforcement goes, the security officers would only be able to issue the less-severe KSC speeding tickets.
"People are still being pulled over," Malone said. "If there is a situation where we needed to detain someone, we could do that until the Brevard Sheriff's (Office) comes out to pick them up."
No date has been set for the cancellation of deputy status. "Since we have advised the sheriff we are no longer going to sponsor the program, it'll be up to the sheriff to undeputize them," Johnson said.
After a meeting last week with space center officials, the sheriff said undeputizing the KSC security officers would raise the price of law enforcement because he'd have to reassign deputies to take over tasks performed by the KSC officers.
"The sheriff made it real clear that the local taxpayer is not going to be burdened," said sheriff's department spokesman Cmdr. Joe Ambrose. He said Parker likes the 42-year-old deputy program.
"We haven't even gotten official word that they've gotten rid of the program. We've been kind of (blind-sided) by all of this," Ambrose said. "The sheriff supports the program as it stands. We haven't seen any issues."
NASA officials have not explained the reason behind their desire to undeputize the officers and rely on sheriff's deputies for law enforcement, Ambrose said. There is no plan for patrolling the miles of roadway between the KSC gates and the boundary of federal property.
"We haven't got a good, clear answer on that," said Ambrose, who added the sheriff has asked KSC for a proposal for the reassignment of duties and authority. "Until we get some clarification on this, it's going to be business as usual with them. I don't want the deputies at KSC to think we don't support them, because we do."
Additionally, the orders issued in late May prohibit security officers from carrying firearms when attending court and from pursuing anyone beyond the space center's boundaries. That could include pursuing someone who sped through the exit gate. Union officials have advised the deputized officers to use caution and follow orders.
"We told them not to stoop to taking any action or inaction, other than being professional," Heyman said.