Midway Gate Didn't Have Security Camera

The perimeter gate at Midway Airport breached by an intoxicated man had no security camera, despite Mayor Daley's affinity for video surveillance.

"Of the three gates at Midway, two already have cameras. The gate at 55th and Laramie was the one gate that did not," said Aviation Department spokeswoman Wendy Abrams.

"At Midway, the Department of Aviation has plans to install approximately 300 landside and airside cameras over the next 12 months at a cost of $1.5 million," Abrams said.

O'Hare Airport has 10 perimeter checkpoints. All but one have cameras.

Without video evidence, City Hall must rely on an Aviation Department security officer's version of the March 5 incident and on the word of at least one witness to the breach.

Officer expected to be disciplined

The unarmed officer staffed the perimeter gate alone. He is on administrative leave with pay, pending Monday's expected wrap-up of the city's internal investigation.

Disciplinary action is anticipated to make an example of the five-year veteran officer, whose primary responsibility was to make certain that unauthorized vehicles and pedestrians do not gain access to the airfield.

"We should await the format and outcome [of the investigation] before we comment on whether or not it could have been made easier by placement of a security camera," Abrams said.

Last week, City Hall announced that 225 Aviation Security officers would undergo "comprehensive retraining" -- and Midway's three perimeter checkpoints would be redesigned -- in response to the embarrassing security breach that caused a brief runway shutdown.

A 22-year-old man slipped through the gate at 55th and Laramie, apparently while the security officer was preoccupied with an exiting vehicle.

Breach closed part of airfield

Mark Mechniek was charged with reckless conduct and trespassing on airport property. He was on the airfield for six minutes before being apprehended after being spotted by a Southwest Airlines pilot between Runways 4 Left and 4 Right.

A portion of the airfield was closed briefly during the security breach and a jetliner on approach to Midway was ordered to go around.

The absence of surveillance cameras at even one gate at Midway and O'Hare is surprising, considering the 2,000-camera surveillance network that Chicago already has and Daley's enthusiasm for making it even bigger.

"We're looking for more and more cameras all over," the mayor told reporters last month.

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