Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Police Motorcycle Unit Bio (DFW Airport)

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POLICE AGENCIES.
DALLAS FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT MOTORS.
By Jason Byers

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DFW Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. The airport covers 29.8 square miles and lies in 2 Texas counties (Dallas and Tarrant County) and 4 cities (Grapevine, Euless, Irving, and Coppell). DFW Airport is a political subdivision but functions much like a self contained city. Although there are no permanent residents at the airport, it has a daily population equivalent to a city of 200,000. Six state highways pass through DFW Airport property. Between 18,000 and 22,000 vehicles enter the central terminal area of the airport daily. This makes the airport a unique place for traffic enforcement. Twelve officers and 2 sergeants are assigned to the motorcycle unit. These officers enforce traffic law, investigate traffic accidents, file traffic related cases, and make up the core of the Airport's SWAT team.

motorcycle officer

DFW Airport opened for flight operations in 1973 and soon after assigned several officers to motorcycle duty. Before long the unit was expanded to 14 officers. After several airplanes were hijacked in the 1970's, DFW Airport Police decided they needed to form a SWAT team. Because of the flexibility of their assignment and the skill of the unit the motorcycle section was formed into a part-time SWAT team. This unit is very well equipped and trained. The SWAT team has trained with other units across the United States and internationally. They have gained a reputation of being a highly effective team and specialists in aircraft assaults.

SWAT training helps the motor unit perform more effectively on dignitary protection details and VIP escorts. DFW International Airport is a main airport hub located in the central United States which attracts heads of state and high profile political figures. The motor unit/SWAT team provides a high-profile deterrence to would-be attackers.

On Valentines Day, February 14, 1997 Officer Rick Barreda died in an on duty motorcycle accident while trying to overtake a speeding violator. Criminal charges were successfully filed against the van driver that pulled out in front of Officer Barreda. To date he is the only officer from the DFW Department of Public Safety killed in the line of duty. Our indoor firearms range is named "The Barreda Range" in his honor. You can see Officer Barreda's name on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. panel 2W line 21.

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