New Funding Agreement to Ensure Police Presence at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport
In a significant development, Lackawanna County has agreed to share the financial responsibility for police officers at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. This marks the first time Lackawanna is contributing to this cause.
A joint statement released by both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties announced that the airport would cover half of the expenses, while the counties would split the remaining costs. This decision comes despite previous assurances by airport officials that additional police were not necessary.
Although the airport employs full-time security personnel and has Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, neither group possesses the legal authority to make arrests, a capacity exclusive to police officers.
The new two-year agreement stipulates that officers from nearby municipalities will staff the airport every day of the year, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Chris Dalessandro, the airport’s finance director, has estimated the annual cost of this initiative to be approximately $120,000, though an updated figure under the new agreement has yet to be disclosed.
Previously, the federal government subsidized the police presence, but this funding ended in May 2024, prompting Luzerne to make up the difference as Lackawanna cited budgetary constraints for its lack of contribution.
Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo and the County Council expressed gratitude towards Lackawanna County Commissioners Chris Chermak and Brenda Sacco for their participation. The joint announcement stated that the agreement “ensures the safety of all travelers and the surrounding public.”
Geographically, the airport is primarily located in Luzerne County, with a small portion extending into Lackawanna. The airport is overseen by a six-member board comprising officials from both counties.
With the impending transition of Commissioner-elect Thom Welby taking over from Sacco, Crocamo and the council are eager to work with Welby to maintain the airport’s security measures moving forward.
Notably absent from the announcement was any mention of Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, who has been vocal about his skepticism regarding the necessity of a police presence at the airport. Gaughan has argued that current TSA agents and airport security can manage incidents until local law enforcement arrives, pointing out the airport’s annual expenditure of over $500,000 on its own armed security.
“It’s nice to have, but we don’t need to have it. So why would I ever agree to pay for something that the people who actually run the airport are telling me that we don’t need again?” Gaughan questioned.
At a recent meeting, airport executives Carl Beardsley Jr. and B.J. Teichman echoed Gaughan’s concerns, with security director Mark Bailer stating that police presence is not legally mandated. Teichman also presented a six-month review showing days with little to no police presence.
Crocamo criticized Gaughan’s stance as “grandstanding” and unprofessional, while Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce defended the police presence, equating its absence to “the definition of defunding the police” and stating that major airports typically have police on site.
