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Gate runner policy change means bigger consequences

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Staff Writer
Tinker Public Affairs --  Gate runners, beware. A new policy is in place.
    
Due to the alarming number of gate runners in the past two months, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker Installation Commander Col. Bob LaBrutta implemented the new policy. Specifically, should anyone run one of Tinker's gates, the consequence will include an assessment of three points towards an individual's on-base driving record and up to 30 days suspension of on-base driving privileges. 
    
"Bottom line, this is a force protection and safety decision," said Colonel LaBrutta. "We not only have an obligation to ensure the security of this installation and the men, women and children of Team Tinker, we also have to ensure the safety of our security forces personnel. This policy should reinforce how important this issue is to all of us."
    
Col. Herbert Wesselman, 72nd Mission Support Group commander, agreed.
    
"Gate runners pose an immediate threat to the installation. We do not know the intentions of a gate runner until they are stopped," said Colonel Wesselman. "In the worst case, it could be a terrorist intent on causing harm to the people, facilities and weapons systems on Tinker. Regardless of intent, gate runners impact everyone on Tinker."
    
The policy implementation comes after 12 people this year have attempted to run Tinker's gates. Three of the incidents occurred in the past two months. Of them, only one was intentional, but the overall quantity concerned officials.
    
"This is primarily a Force Protection issue," said Lt. Col. Troy Roberts, 72nd Security Forces Squadron commander. "Drivers should consider the position they put our security forces Airmen or Department of the Air Force police officers in when they run a gate. Our defenders have to make a split second decision, 'Am I dealing with a hostile threat or an inattentive driver?' They then react appropriately."
    
In the case of the intentional gate runner, Staff Sgt. Randolph Bowers, 72nd SFS Crime Prevention manager, said the incident occurred during morning rush hour at Liberator Gate (No. 21). The driver was disgruntled and impatient. After the driver passed through the gate, police officers activated the final denial barrier system, which stopped the vehicle in front of the intended target causing light damage to the paint. As the gate runner tried to turn around, he was stopped and apprehended. 
    
To protect both the base and other drivers, during the incident, the gate is shut down until the situation was resolved, which could last more than an hour, Sergeant Bowers said. 
    
"When the barrier system is deployed in response to a gate runner, it puts Tinker Air Force Base's mission on hold potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars," he said. 
    
Costs can include replacing damaged parts of the barrier system, paying for civil engineers to fix the barrier system and repairing vehicle damage. The largest potential cost is delaying Tinker's 26,000-strong work force from getting to their workplace.