The study released in September by Camber Corp. , a consulting firm in Huntsville, Ala. , found that only two of Florida's 14 ports have sworn police officers permanently assigned. Just three require photo identification cards for employees to get into secured areas, and only two conduct fingerprint criminal background checks for new hires. Tampa and Miami had the most security problems of the state's four major ports, the study found. While some cargo storage and staging areas are fenced, much of Tampa's port is wide open. Tampa's current security posture makes the port highly vulnerable to potential criminal activity and drug smuggling. . . .
Access control is virtually non-existent. . .
A big part of the problem is geography. Tampa's port stretches from cruise terminals near downtown to industrial sites on the east side of Tampa Bay, with numerous public roads running through the property. Port directors, drug enforcement officials and Bush's office had agreed going into the legislative session on how to improve security over three years, he says. Port officials expect the Legislature to come up with more money over the next two years. Officials hope to begin the process this summer.