Airport police in Los Angeles want the federal government to use full-body scanners on every airline passenger, officials said Monday.

Meanwhile, several Santa Clarita Valley residents said they are willing to submit to the controversial scans - which show security agents what lies beneath passengers' clothes - if it means safer flights.

"I really feel that it's an invasion of privacy," said James Walton, 60, of Castaic. "(People) shouldn't have to be subject to that at all, but in this day and time, you have to do what's necessary. Our hands are tied."

The Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association called on the Transportation Security Administration to expand use of the scanners, which can detect nonmetal devices. The announcement came after an airplane terrorism scare last month.

Los Angeles International Airport is one of 19 airports nationwide that have the scanning devices.

However, Transportation Security Administration officials said advanced imaging technology is currently used only for passengers who set off walk-through metal detectors and those who are pre-selected for secondary screening.

The technology blurs each passenger's face and creates a three-dimensional outline of the person's body and all items they are wearing.

Once the passenger passes inspection, the image is deleted, said Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Suzanne Trevino.

Each passenger also has the choice to decline the procedure and instead receive a full-body pat-down, Trevino said.

Santa Clarita Valley residents said recent security breaches make increased scans a priority.

"As long as we're doing it in a courteous manner and giving people as much privacy as possible, it's completely worth it in exchange for our safety," said Kambrea Watson, 34, of Santa Clarita.

Watson said she wasn't surprised when she heard about the man who recently tried to detonate an explosive on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

"Unfortunately, it takes things like that for people to start talking again and to remind us that we need to work harder on being more secure," Watson said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.