The case underscores concerns about oversight of the 1,100 private security personnel at the state’s airports.

A fired Kauaʻi police detective later hired to provide security at the Līhuʻe airport did not have a state security guard license when he and two others were accused in the death of a 53-year-old man they had restrained.

The guard’s employer, Allied Universal Security Services, says the certification was not required because he was operating as a law enforcement officer, a category of private employee it says is exempt from the state’s licensing requirement.

However, the contract between Allied Universal and the state Department of Transportation “requires all individual guards, and all agents, operatives, and assistants employed by a guard agency,” to be registered with the

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