Miami International (MIA) has a new partner in its fight against crime.
The Miami-Dade Aviation Department and the newly formed Miami Airport Watch will keep an eye on the airport’s perimeter for interesting commercial aircraft, as well as suspicious activity.
Members of the Miami Airport Watch, a South Florida photography group, recently participated in a two-hour Behavior Detection class led by the Miami-Dade Police Department. They were taught how to detect and report suspicious behavior at the airport. Members also will be able to report aircraft mechanical issues such as blown tires if they see them through their lenses.
The 19 people in the group are working professionals: engineer, attorney, travel agent, physician, pilot, software developer. But outside their jobs, they pursue their photography passion and now act as a volunteer crime watch on the outskirts of MIA.
“Passenger safety is our top priority at MIA, so we welcome the members of Miami Airport Watch as another layer of security for us,” says MDAD Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. “Their eyes, their lenses and their airfield awareness are a big asset to us.”
Suresh Atapattu, a biomedical engineer and member of the Miami Airport Watch, says the group is “thrilled” by the union.
“This is a great way for us to leverage our shared passion for photographing airplanes and contribute to the overall safety and security of MIA,” Atapattu says.
