A former director of the Office of Security Inquiries at Los Alamos National Lab has written a book on what he says are serious security problems at the lab.

The book by Glenn Walp, Implosion at Los Alamos: How Crime Corruption and Cover-ups Jeopardize America's Nuclear Weapons Secrets, tells the story of Walp's time at the lab in 2002. He describes the atmosphere as more like a college campus than a military installation.

Walp said in an interview this week that he wrote the book to shed light on what happened at the lab with stolen or missing property during his tenure. Walp said he and two colleagues worked to properly handle the cases of $3 million in stolen or missing property including 400 computers, but they found resistance from other top lab officials. Walp said he was wrongfully fired in late 2002. He and colleague Steve Doran were later rehired as consultants.

"I believe every American should want to know why their premier national nuclear weapons lab, i.e. LANL, has failed to ensure iron-clad security of nuclear secrets. ... I'm trying to reach out to the people in power who have the power to change something before it's too late."

Walp, who spent 29 years with the Pennsylvania State Police and was the chief of the Arizona Capitol Police before taking the security post in Los Alamos, said he hopes Congress pays more attention to what is happening at the lab and is able to beef up security, in part by providing better training. He and two of his colleagues have testified at Congressional hearings about LANL.

The book touches on well-known events such as missing hard drives and computers, security breaches and the Wen Ho Lee case.

Walp said his goal is to keep the public's focus on the lab's problems so they don't happen again.

"When you deal with this type of product, you don't get a second chance," he said.

Walp, who lives in Gold Canyon, Ariz., is touring and promoting his book at signings and in interviews. He also said he spoke out because others are afraid to and others have been punished for doing so.

LANL spokesman Kevin Roark said the suggestion that nuclear secrets were compromised isn't true.

"It would appear that the book uncovers nothing new. It's a retelling of old news, all of which was independently investigated and while some of it unfortunately is true, much of what is outlined in the book is blatantly false," Roark said.

In a rebuttal to Roark's comments, Walp said in a statement Friday that he is willing to debate Roark or any lab spokesperson about the book's content.

Walp has authored other books on crime and has a doctorate in human services. He will sign his book in Santa Fe today from 12-3 at the University of Phoenix building, 130 Siringo Road. He will speak at 12:30 p.m.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.