TSA launches new security effort

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has launched an initiative to reduce the potential threat to airport perimeter security.

The new TSA security initiative, the Airside Vulnerability Reduction Team program, is an effort to enhance security operations around the perimeter of the airport and around the area past the airport security checks, including the tarmac.

The TSA named 44-year law enforcement veteran Willie Williams to run the Airside Vulnerability Reduction Team program. Williams, who served as chief of police for Los Angeles and Philadelphia, was most recently the federal security director at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. In taking the new post, Williams will also become the TSA's official liaison to the law enforcement community.

"By continuing to strengthen the relationships we have with local law enforcement and airline and airport security partners, we can better leverage our existing resources to address potential security threats," Williams said in a statement.