One of your role models?
Watts breaks security rules at city airport
2001-10-07
By Ken Raymond
Staff Writer
Copyright 2001, The Oklahoman
An Oklahoma U.S. representative -- who supports the aviation security bill scheduled for a vote this week -- violated security measures outside Will Rogers World Airport on Sept. 28, aides confirmed.
U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, R- Norman, was so angry about receiving a parking ticket outside the airport that he shoved the ticket under an Oklahoma City police officer's badge, two of his aides told The Oklahoman.
Watts received the ticket for leaving his car unattended in a loading zone about 10 a.m. One of the new security measures implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks bans unattended vehicles in loading areas.
During the conflict, Watts used the word "bomb" in protesting the ticket, said Pam Pryor, Watts' chief of staff.
In a statement Saturday, Watts said he has apologized about the situation and said he has "the highest regard for law enforcement and appreciates the added burden they are under at this time."
Police sources said Watts yelled at the officer who wrote the ticket, thrusting it between his badge and chin and telling him to "take care of it."
Pryor and Greg McCarthy, Watts' press secretary, said Watts pulled into the parking spot outside the second-level airport terminal about 10 a.m. and helped his wife, Frankie, remove her bags from their 1994 Pontiac. After she stumbled on the curb, Watts helped her carry her bags through a revolving door into the terminal, leaving the car unattended.
Watts said he left the car "for seconds" and was "surprised" to find police Sgt. Edward Stupka leaving a $15 parking ticket on his car.
Stupka told Watts he didn't see him pull up or leave the car, Watts' aides said. The congressman protested the ticket and questioned the security measures at the airport.
"He said something like, 'Well, what if I'd had a bomb?'" Pryor said.
Watts stuffed the ticket under Stupka's badge, she said, and Stupka threw the ticket onto the back seat of Watts' car. Watts then drove away.
Frankie Watts mailed payment for the ticket on Thursday, Pryor said.
On Saturday, a day after learning that The Oklahoman planned to publish a story about the incident, Watts attempted to apologize to Stupka on the telephone.
"He has made repeated attempts in the last 24 hours to make a personal apology to ... Stupka," McCarthy said. "He has tried several times ... but the officer is not receptive."
McCarthy said Watts left a message on Stupka's voice mail expressing his appreciation of the job all law enforcement officers have been doing since Sept. 11. Stupka returned the call, McCarthy said, and told Watts that he had sent a certified letter to Watts' Washington office.
Stupka was unavailable for comment Saturday night, but local Fraternal Order of Police sources told The Oklahoman on Saturday that the letter seeks a written apology from Watts.
Pryor said Watts "recognized his bad behavior" and attempted to apologize. She said Watts, like other government leaders, has been under "a lot of tension, a lot of stress" since Sept. 11.
Airport spokeswoman Karen Carney said the FAA was "made aware" of the incident, but no written reports were made or charges filed because Watts' statements were made outside the terminal and were not threatening.
Last year, a man was detained at the airport for joking about having a bomb in his suitcase during check-in.
CONTRIBUTING: Chris Casteel in the Washington Bureau
U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts: Says he apologized after arguing with police officer at airport. |
