Detroit Metro Airport Enhances Security with K9s

Detroit Metro Airport Enhances Security with K9s

K9s will be used at the Detroit airport to add an additional layer of security in the airport's busiest season.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 31, 2019

The busiest travel season is upon us and the Transportation Security Administration in Detroit is looking for ways to cut down on passenger wait times at security checkpoints while also enhancing the layers of security at Detroit Metropolitan County Airport.

Airport officials, TSA and Customs and Border Patrol plan to boost security with 10 K9s that search the airport for prohibited food, narcotics, explosives and suspicious items, according to The Detroit News. 

Last year, about 5.6 million passengers were screened at the Detroit Metro Airport between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The airport is expecting the screen more than 6 million in the same timeframe this year, said TSA spokesperson Mark Howell. 

"This last Friday was the busiest travel day we've had on record, screening nearly 2.8 million people, and it is going to stay that busy through the summer, so you will see these dogs on hand and some others throughout the airport working to keep things secure," Howell said. "On average, we screen about 2.2 million a day, but we protect this to be the busiest summer ever."

TSA officials use the K9 units as additional security, screening passengers as they wind through the lines before reaching the checkpoint. 

"They are sniffing things out while people stand in lines that could potentially be dangerous like explosives and components to make them," Howell said. "These dogs are out mobile detection capability that alerts us in a quick second if a passenger is a potential threat."

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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