By Lookout Staff
September 9, 2009 -- Former Santa Monica Police chief James T. Butts Jr. announced Tuesday that he is leaving his post as head of police and security operations at Los Angeles World Airports after three years on the job.
George R. Centeno, a 28-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department, has been named the new Chief of the Airport Police Division, according to a message from the chief posted on the agency's web site.
No information was posted concerning Butts' departurethe from nation's largest airport law enforcement and security organization, but the Los Angeles Times late Tuesday night posted part of a memo obtained by the paper.
"We have established ourselves as leaders in implementing technology and as a premier respected, trusted, professional law enforcement organization," Butts wrote in the announcement.
Butts did not give a reason for his departure, according to the Times.
Butts' position will not be filled, according to the memo. Instead, his duties will "be absorbed" by Centeno and other staff.
Butts is credited with improving operations at LAWA, which runs the 24-hour a day uniform patrol services of the Airport Police Division at Los Angeles International, Van Nuys, Ontario, and Palmdale Regional Airport.
He also is credited with improving training and discipline at LAWA, which claims more than more than 1,200 sworn and civilian personnel.
The office is "responsible for the initial response to calls for service, preliminary criminal investigations, and enforcement of laws and regulations on the airfield and in secured areas," according to the agency's web site.
Before assuming the top post at LAWA, Butts was Santa Monica's police chief for 15 years.
As chief, Butts oversaw a dramatic drop in reports of serious crimes to the lowest level since 1957, mirroring State and national trends, and pushed to diversify the predominantly white department, hiring Latinos, Blacks and Asians.
