Guarding the gates now Department of Air Force

On Sept. 30 at midnight, the contract security guards TW and Co. quietly handed over security of the gates to Hill Air Force Base to the Department of the Air Force Police and 75th Security Forces. After more than five years of protecting the base entry gates, the Air Force contract will close out as they have already done at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and will do so across the Air Force through 2012. On May 10, 2004, contract security guards with Worldwide Security took over entry control duties from the security forces Air Force-wide. Due to excessive deployments overseas, security forces here at Hill AFB and other stateside bases looked to the contract security guards to assist them with day-to-day gate duties.In the beginning and throughout the contract which lasted from that initial signing date until now, personnel were made up of retired and ex-military, Reserve military from all branches, National Guardsman, local law enforcement officers from the surrounding cities, and security guards with years of experience from local companies. It has been a great five years for the contract security guards which saw them switch from Worldwide Security to USProtect and now ends with TW and Co. which took over on Dec. 1, 2007. The guard force received accolades from numerous base leaders as well as local dignitaries over the years for their professionalism and top notch security of Hill AFB. They were recognized as "Best Contract Security Guard Force" during an Operational Readiness Inspection in 2005. The guards detected numerous DUIs resulting in safer roadways for the base populace. The guards have stopped several attempted illegal entries of the gates by deploying the Bollard System, preventing drivers from breaching base security and possibly gaining access to base resources and personnel. Team Hill came to work this morning to find DAF Police and Security Forces checking identifications and welcoming entrants to Hill AFB. The public will not notice any difference in the level of security. They may see different uniforms, but the guard force is as experienced and professional as the contract security guards that came before them. Approximately a third of the new force will be familiar faces from TW and Co. personnel; however two-thirds of those working the gates will be new faces but as equally experienced and ready to prove themselves as professionals. Most of the DAF Police have been selected for their experience in the law enforcement and security fields as well as their military experience. Some of the expected destinations for the previous contract guards besides those who will remain with the DAF Police, include the Utah Highway Patrol, Park City Police Department, and various security companies throughout the Salt Lake City Valley and Wasatch Front.