POCATELLO — During the months and years that followed the Sept. 11 attacks, security was beefed up and protocols were adjusted at airports around the nation, even at Pocatello Regional Airport.

    Among the changes was funding from the Transportation Security Administration to ensure security was handled at the airport. In fact, it was enough to fund the placement of officers from the Pocatello Police Department there.

    However, that is no longer the case, said David Allen, the airport’s manager.

    “We knew it wasn’t going to last forever,” he said. “The last three years, we have been trying to figure out a way to transition to our own operational personnel for these duties.”

    The primary duties included the screening of passengers boarding flights. But over the years, numerous additional tasks were added to ensure the TSA funds were fully used.

    “They do a host of functions, but all but one task can be performed by a non-law enforcement officer,” Allen said. “We already knew it wasn’t an efficient use of police personnel. The only task that needs a law enforcement officer is passenger screening.”

    As part of the transition, Allen was authorized to hire three operation specialists who will fill all the functions except passenger screenings.

    While Pocatello police officers will no longer be stationed at the airport, they will continue to be present during an allotted time period prior to each daily flight out of PRA. Allen said most of the patrol officers were trained last month in anticipation of the change, allowing the nearest available officer to proved the screening service.

    The change took effect earlier this month.