Guard post changes effective Monday

Several guard post staffing changes at Technical Area 3 go into effect on Monday (Nov. 10). These changes will allow for programmatic support to continue, but will affect certain Laboratory organizations that have benefited from the staffing of these posts by Protection Technology Los Alamos personnel in the past, according to the Security and Safeguards (S) Division.

The changes are being made in an effort to reduce the impact of anticipated 2004 fiscal year funding shortfalls on the ability to provide security support to the Laboratory's programmatic missions. S Division and PTLA identified three protective force posts for closure or staffing changes. The three posts are 412, the main entrance to the Administration Building; 324, the entrance to the X-Division exclusionary area; and 327, the rear entrance of the Nicholas Metropolis Center for Modeling and Simulation.

The impact on Los Alamos' ability to conduct routine operations should be minimal, according to Michael Wismer, acting deputy group leader for Security Support (S-5). The changes involve a reduction in operating hours, a difference in the type of protective force officer staffing the post, and in some cases, the elimination of staffing, said Wismer. The changes will not result in layoffs.

At guard post 412, the protective force guard position is being eliminated. Entry to the Administration Building limited security area will be through the existing turnstiles and handicap doorway.

At 324, the hours of operation are being reduced from 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to 11 hours a day, five days a week.

At 327, the protective force position is being eliminated. Access control for post 327 will be transferred to posts 325 and 326 at the the Metropolis center.

These configuration changes represent the first phase of post adjustments and closures. By the end of calendar year 2004, there will be other post changes which will result from automation of access controls, according to Mike Grimler, senior security specialist for protective force oversight and special projects in S-5.

For more information on protective force postings, contact S-5 or the Security Help Desk at 5-2002.

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