(a) 
There is hereby created and established the Harlingen Airport Security Force, referred to in this article as the "airport security force." The airport security force shall consist of individuals qualified to be a peace officer by the commission on law enforcement officer standards and education of the State of Texas. The force shall consist of such number as shall be determined by the Harlingen Airport Board from time to time, pursuant to authority herewith and hereinafter designated to such board for such purpose. Each such member of the personnel of the security force shall be commissioned by such Harlingen Airport Board, a prerequisite to becoming such a member thereof.
(b) 
As a further prerequisite to becoming a duly constituted officer (as part of the personnel) of the security force, each such commissioned officer shall take the following oath to be administered by duly authorized authority:
I, __________, do solemnly swear that I will uphold the laws of the United States and of the State of Texas, and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Texas, and to faithfully perform my duties as designated by the City Commission (governing body) of the City of Harlingen, Texas, by and through its Airport Board.
(c) 
Each such commissioned officer of the airport security force shall serve until such officer may resign, die, or be terminated by the city commission pursuant to the personnel policy for the administrative employees of the city.
(Code 1973, § 2-86; Code 1997, § 157.30; Ordinance 78-18, adopted 3/10/1978; Ordinance 80-60, adopted 6/18/1980)
(a) 
The airport security force, and each member thereof, shall have the duty and authority as follows:
(1) 
To supervise, carry out, and enforce the security provisions and procedure at the Valley International Airport for enplaning and deplaning commercial aircraft passengers and freight. The term "commercial aircraft passengers and freight" means any person or any freight enplaning or loading on or deplaning and unloaded from any aircraft landing at the Valley International Airport and operating under certificate issued by the state or federal government, and landing and operating at the Valley International Airport pursuant to lease and/or other oral or written agreements and agreements with the Harlingen Airport Board; and including such security laws, rules, regulations, and procedures as are and may be prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration, Texas Aeronautics Commission, the city commission, the Harlingen Airport Board, and any other authorized governmental agency, from time to time.
(2) 
To supervise and control the flow of motor traffic at the Valley International Airport, including the temporary parking of motor vehicles at the airport terminal, contract parking of motor vehicles at the airport terminal (provided that such regulation and control shall be in accordance with contract by and involving such contract and regulated parking); and the general flow of motor traffic; and including the issuance of duly constituted citations for traffic movement and parking violations at the Valley International Airport, as such traffic moving and parking provisions and regulations may be prescribed by ordinance by the city commission from time to time.
(3) 
To regulate and enforce the orderly movement of pedestrian and freight traffic at the Valley International Airport, including within and without and immediately surrounding the airport terminal facilities, and upon the Valley International Airport terminal driveway and parking facilities.
(4) 
To enforce the laws subject to enforcement by a peace officer of the State of Texas, including the laws of the State of Texas and the ordinances, rules, and regulations of the city, including the power to make arrests for the violation thereof. Provided, however, that upon the determination by such airport security force and/or any commissioned member thereof of the violation of any such law, including, but not limited to, the making of arrests as a result thereof, such airport security force, and each individual commissioned member thereof, directly or by and through the presiding officer of such airport security force, shall forthwith and immediately contact the police department of the city for delivery of any such arrested persons into the custody of such police department, and for the referral of any such violations to such Harlingen Police Department, for the further processing thereof by the Harlingen Police Department, in accordance with the laws, including Texas Penal Code and Texas Code of Criminal, Procedure of the State of Texas, the ordinances of the city, and all other applicable laws.
(b) 
The jurisdiction and authority of commissioned officers of the airport security force shall be confined to the Valley International Airport, including and limited to the landing field, flight line, airport terminal, controlled parking area, and driveways and temporary parking area for ingress and egress to the airport terminal. Nothing contained in this article shall deprive or affect other duly constituted law enforcement officers, including the Harlingen Police Department, from its or their jurisdictional functions at the Valley International Airport. The authority and jurisdiction of the airport security force under the provisions of subsections (a)(1), (2) and (3) of this section, as administered by it under the direction and control of the Harlingen Airport Board as hereinafter provided for, is basic and primary, save and except in instances where assistance is needed by the Harlingen Police Department or requested of the Harlingen Police Department by the airport security force or the Harlingen Airport Board. Provided, further, nothing herein contained shall prevent dual jurisdiction and authority of the airport security force and the Harlingen Police Department in all applicable phases of law enforcement in and upon the areas first hereinabove designated in this article; and provided, further, that in the event of a conflict or alleged conflict of authority by and between the Harlingen Police Department and the Harlingen Airport Security Force, the Harlingen Police Department is herewith determined and designated as the prevailing authority.
(Code 1973, § 2-87; Code 1997, § 157.31; Ordinance 78-18, adopted 3/10/1978)
The Harlingen Airport Security Force is herewith designated as being and constituting a separate and distinct department of the administration of the city, being separate and distinct and in no way constituting a part of or in any way related to any other department or section of the administration of the city or other city government, including the police department, fire department, and all other departments, save and except for being under the direction and control of the Harlingen Airport Board as hereinafter provided for. Each commissioned officer and/or other employee or personnel of the airport security force shall be and is herewith designated a city administrative employee, subject to and under the personnel policy for all noncivil-service employees of the city. Each commissioned officer and/or other employee of the airport security force, as a qualifying condition for becoming same, shall accept such commission and/or employment in written acceptance, therein acknowledging that he is a commissioned officer or other form of employee, as may be designated, of the Harlingen Airport Security Force, is under the direction and control of the Harlingen Airport Board, and is a regular administrative employee of the city and subjects to the noncivil-service personnel policy of the city.
(Code 1973, § 2-88; Code 1997, § 157.32; Ordinance 78-18, adopted 3/10/1978)
The supervisory direction and control of the airport security force shall be by the Harlingen Airport Board, as the same is duly constituted under divisions 3 and 4 of this article; such direction and control being herewith specifically delegated by the city commission, as hereinafter set forth, and save and except for the commissioning of the officers of such airport security force by the city commission, as hereinabove provided for, and save and except as otherwise herein provided for:
(1) 
Determine and submit to the city commission from time to time nominees for commissioning as officers of such security force.
(2) 
Employ other noncommissioned, nonofficer personnel of such security force, as may be required, from time to time, for the purpose of recordkeeping, secretarial services and other administrative duties not entailing the official duties of such commissioned officers as hereinabove set forth.
(3) 
Direct supervision and control of commissioned officers and all other personnel of the security force, including the designation of hours of work, specific duties and authority.
(4) 
Designating the presiding officer and title therefor, of the officers of such security force, including the designation of his duties as such presiding officer, and establishing such position with the other commissioned officers of such security force.
(5) 
Determine applicable federal statutes and rules and regulations (as promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration and other applicable federal agencies), and applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of Texas (as promulgated by the Texas Aeronautics Commission and other applicable state commissions, boards, or authorities) applicable to security and other operations at public airports; requiring security force commissioned officers to learn and fully identify such laws, rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing and enforcing same at the Valley International Airport.
(6) 
Specifying the rules and procedure for moving, controlling, and enforcing motor vehicular, other vehicular, and pedestrian traffic and movement at the Valley International Airport, including within the Harlingen Airport terminal building, upon the Harlingen Airport temporary and regulated parking areas, streets, and driveways, and immediately surrounding the Harlingen Airport terminal building, including the flight line portion thereof; and requiring the commissioned officers of the security force to learn and otherwise become fully familiar and knowledgeable with such laws, rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of same.
(7) 
Promulgate such other rules and regulations for the safe and convenient operation of the Valley International Airport, and furnishing the same to the commissioned officers of the security force and requiring their learning and becoming fully knowledgeable therewith, for the administration and enforcement thereof.
(8) 
Negotiating, arranging, and supervising liaison relationships between the Harlingen Airport Security Force and the police department, to enable violations of the law at the Valley International Airport, and arrests made in connection therewith, as determined and conducted by the commissioned officers of the security force, to be forthwith and immediately referred to the Harlingen Police Department for further processing as hereinabove provided for.
(9) 
Delegate all or any of the foregoing authority and duties, and any other authority and duties of the Harlingen Airport Board, as herein provided for, to the duly constituted manager of the Valley International Airport, for the direct operation, implementation, conducting and supervision thereof by such manager.
(Code 1973, § 2-89; Code 1997, § 157.33; Ordinance 78-18, adopted 3/10/1978)
The salaries of personnel and other expenses incurred in establishing and operating the airport security force shall be the responsibility and liability of the Harlingen Airport Board and included in its budgeting and financing planning operations.
(Code 1973, § 2-90; Code 1997, § 157.34; Ordinance 78-18, adopted 3/10/1978)