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Thursday, April 4, 2002
Port asks for funds for better security
$3.5 million federal request would go for surveillance
By Tara Copp
Scripps Howard News Service
WASHINGTON - The Port of Corpus Christi is asking for $3.5 million from the new Transportation Safety Administration to upgrade its surveillance systems.
   The port would couple the federal dollars with $1.5 million of its own for a $5 million package. It would include new communications devices, infrared and low-light cameras and additional personnel to monitor the technology, said port executive director John LaRue.
   The cameras "would be along the ship channel so they could watch the ships and facilities, and they would be at the facilities so they could watch the docks," LaRue said.
   In the months since Sept. 11, the port has made various increases to its security, including a spending increase on its contract with Amtex Security Inc., whose president is Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi.
   The Amtex contract was raised from $1 million to $1.4 million. The extra $400,000 has paid for additional security personnel performing roving patrols along the port, and additional surveillance of Harbor Bridge, LaRue said.
   If the port receives the $3.5 million and is able to purchase state-of-the-art surveillance systems, it would replace or reduce the need for the additional Amtex services, he said.
   Since Sept. 11, port security has called the police to question suspicious individuals a couple of times, LaRue said. In those instances, the people questioned were taking pictures of port buildings or asking questions at the port security gates, which raised concerns. The sheriff's department is also patrolling the ship channel with a new boat purchased by the port for that purpose after Sept. 11, LaRue said.
   The port is planning on turning one of its existing buildings near the general cargo terminal into a central security center.
   Having a building already in place will save money, so security dollars could be spent instead on people monitoring the cameras and equipment inside, LaRue said.
   The requested $3.5 million would come from $93.3 million the government has set aside to upgrade port security nationwide.
   The Port of Corpus Christi submitted its request for funds last week and is expecting to hear from the Transportation Safety Administration by June, LaRue said.
   For more information on the port security upgrade programs, details are published at www.fedbizops.gov.


Contact Tara Copp at coppt@shns.com

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