MBTA Police Special Operations Team

In October 1999, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department formed a Special Operations Team (SOT). Prior to that, there were no tactical teams in Massachusetts to handle SWAT type situations on public transportation. Formation of the MBTA team was the culmination of over a year of planning. While in training, the SOT provides tactical response to situations beyond the capabilities of patrol police. The mission statement calls for tactical response by the SOT to situations on property belonging to or controlled by the MBTA or as a result of actions concerning MBTA, such as extreme or life-threatening situations, armed and/or barricaded suspects, snipers, tactical support for high risk warrant service, and any situations which warrant use of special tactics and/or equipment.

Trainees attend a 2-week session on basics of tactical operations, weapons proficiency, and marksmanship. After the initial training, the SOT trains twice a month to increase proficiency and maintain skills at the highest level. Officers are selected through a process including physical fitness training, psychological testing, firearms judgment, supervisory recommendation, and an oral interview. To be eligible, applicants must have at least three years of law enforcement experience.

The SOT has a yearly training schedule and manual defining individual and team tasks, conditions under which they must be performed, and standards to be met. Training scenarios range from an armed gunman holding hostages on a bus to serving felony warrants on violent armed suspects. For further information, contact the MBTA Team OIC at 617, 222-1232.

Terrorists Test. During a 10-day period in May, U. S. Government officials will participate in a mock alert based on simultaneous release of chemical or biological agents in two cities. Participants will include the Attorney General, Secretaries of Defense, Energy, Transportation, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. "Operation Top Off (for top officials)," will involve thousands including the governors of two states, the National Guard, state and local emergency and medical personnel, and the FBI and Federal Emergency Management Agency Directors. A second drill involving use of nuclear weapons will be held in the Washington, D. C., area. Factors to be evaluated include amount of time to identify the agent, ability to limit its spread, treatment of wounded without further contamination, search for the terrorists, and coordination of agencies involved which includes state and local police, fire fighters, hospital personnel, and others involved in managing such an incident. Planning for the drill, which is expected to cost $3.5 million, was mandated by Congress and began a year ago.

Phoenix Plans Light Rail System. Early this year, the citizens of Phoenix voted in favor of a sales tax, the funds from which will be used for development of a light rail system and a major increase in bus and paratransit services. As part of this project, the Transit Public Safety Department is to receive eleven full-time police officers, six vehicles, support equipment, and new Class A and B uniforms. Title 40 of the Arizona Revised Statutes also provides for creation of private rail police and extends authority into any jurisdiction in which the system operates.

MBTA Items of Interest. For further information on the following, contact Deputy Chief Fleming at 617, 222-1100.

BNN TV Cable Show: As part of its community policing philosophy, the MBTA Police have a weekly public access television show to allow viewers to call in and discuss safety issues with police officers. This program is also used as a forum for discussion of public transportation and safety issues.
Operation Safe Travel: Two MBTA detectives, Jose Agosto and Robert Evans, have developed an interactive display booth to promote safety on MBTA vehicles. The detectives use this display at trade shows, colleges, local community events, and in transit stations in an effort to reinforce the message of a safe and secure transit system.
Partnership Against Crime: MBTA uses a computer presentation to explain to employees their role in system security and how the success of safety and security is dependent on security awareness of all employees.
MBTA Police Department Web Page:: The MBTA Police Department is developing a web page complete with surveys for use by customers to use in providing the Department with an innovative and cost-effective way to meet the needs of passengers. The site can be reached at http://mbtapolice.itg.net.

Meetings

5/21-23/00 17th European Executive Policing Conference, Paris, France, hosted by the French National Police and French Chiefs of Police Association

4/29-5/1/00 6th Conference on Drugs, Alcohol, and Impaired Driving, Newport, RI, International Association of Chiefs of Police/DRE Section, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and New England States Drug Evaluation and Classification Program

5/7-11/00 American Public Transportation Association Bus and Paratransit Conference, Houston, TX (202, 898-4040)

5/9-11/00 ENFORCE: 1st Annual Forensic Sciences and Crime Scene Technology Conference and Exposition, Washington, DC (203, 445-1224; Fax: 445-1219).

5/10-13/00 International Association of Chiefs of Police Public Information Officers Section Meeting, Atlanta, GA (800, THE IACP)

5/22-26/00 Law Enforcement Information Management Section 24th Annual Training Conference,, Denver, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/1-2/00 Community Corrections Conference, Denver, CO, National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Rocky Mountain Region (800, 416-8086)

6/7-10/00 Technology for Public Safety in Critical Incident Response Conference 2000, Denver, CO, National Institute of Justice Office of Science and Technology.

6/11-15/00 American Public Transportation Association Rapid Transit Conference, St. Louis, MO (202, 898-4040)

8/27-29/00 1st Sub-Saharan Africa Executive Policing Conference, Durban, South Africa, hosted by the Durban City Police Department

9/24-28/00 American Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (202, 898-4038/4039)

11/11-15/00 107th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference: Law Enforcement Education and Technology Exposition, San Diego, CA (800, THE IACP)

Training

5/1/00 Search, Seizure, and Evidence Preservation, Omaha, NE, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/1/00 Tourism, Crime, and Security, Conway, SC, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/1-4/00 Congress and the Intelligence Community, Washington, DC, The Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University (202,333-4838; Fax: 333-8165)

5/8/00 Advanced Internal Affairs: Proactive Steps for Correction, Buffalo Grove, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/8/00 SWAT Supervisors' Tactics and Management, Washington Township, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/8/00 Ethical Standards in Police Services, Kent, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/8/00 Value-Centered Leadership: A Workshops on Ethics, Values, Schaumburg, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/8-12/00 Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation Washington, DC, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

5/11/00 Harassment, Discrimination, and Liability, Toledo, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 SWAT I: Basic Tactical Operations and High Risk, Ithaca, NY, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 Dispute Resolution for Law Enforcement Executives, Lakewood, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 Rapid Deployment to High-Risk Incidents, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 Mentoring for the Retention of Women and Minorities, San Diego, CA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 Advanced Supervision Skills, Mt. Holly, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/15/00 Critical Incident Management, Dublin, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/16-19/00 Transit System Security, Las Vegas, NV, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

5/22/00 SWAT II: Advanced Tactical and Hostage Rescue Operations, Mt. Holly, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/22/00 Risk Management for Law Enforcement Agencies, Sherwood, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/22/00 Less-Lethal Weapons Instructor Certification Course, Libertyville, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/22/00 SWAT II: Advanced Tactical and Hostage Rescue Operations, Mt. Holly, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

5/24/00 Introduction to Crime Analysis, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/5/00 Tactical Entry Operation, Mt. Holly, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/5/00 Advanced Supervision Skills, White Bear Lake, MN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/5/00 Police Leadership: Managing the Future, Concord, MA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/5-9/00 Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation Toledo, OH, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

6/8/00 Managing the Training Unit, Colorado Springs, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/10-13/00 Congress and the Intelligence Community, Washington, DC, The Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University (202,333-4838; Fax: 333-8165)

6/12/00 Civil Disorder Resolution I: Field Tactics, Toledo, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/12/00 Managing Criminal Investigations, St. Peters, MN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/12/00 SWAT I: Basic Tactical Operations and High Risk, Aurora, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/14-15/00 Fatigue Awareness Seminar, Syracuse, NY, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

6/15/00 Combating Workplace Violence, Muscatine, IA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/15/00 Advanced Grant Writing and Managenent, Chesterfield, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/19/00 Tourism, Crime, and Security, Arlington, TX, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)
6/19/00 Career Development, Durham, NH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/19/00 Tourism, Crime, and Security, Arlington, TX, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/19/00 SWAT II: Advanced Tactical and Hostage Rescue Operations, Leavenworth, KS, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/26/00 Reducing School Violence, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/26/00 Response to Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Terrorism, St. Louis, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/26/00 Implementing a Youth Intervention Program, Alexandria, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

6/26/00 Developing Facilitation Skills, Freehold, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10/00 Administering and Managing Campus Law Enforcement, St. Louis, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10/00 Investigation of Computer Crime, Toledo, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10/00 New Chiefs' Development Seminar, Seattle, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10/00 Less-Lethal Force Options: Concepts and Considerations, Trenton, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10/00 Police/Medical Investigation of Death, Miami, FL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/10-14/00 Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation Des Moines, IA, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

7/12/00 Tactical Science and the Decision-Making Process, Baltimore, MD, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/13/00 Investigating Computer Component Theft, Knoxville, TN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/13/00 Search, Seizure and Evidence Preservation, Tucson, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/17/00 Mental Preparation for Armed Encounters, ST. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/17/00 Internal Affairs: Legal and Operational Issues, Maple Grove, MN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/17/00 SWAT II: Advanced Tactical and Hostage Rescue Operations, Concord, NH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/18/00 Investigation of Incidents of Excessive/Deadly Force, Poughkeepsie, NY International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/19/00 Gang Investigation, Suppression and Techniques, Chesterfield, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/19-20/00 Fatigue Awareness Seminar, Austin, TX, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

7/20/00 Performance Appraisal, Clarkstown, NY, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/21/00 Grant Writing for Law Enforcement Agencies, Freehold, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/24/00 Organizing and Managing Small Agency and Area SWAT, Lincoln, NH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/24/00 Leadership and Quality Policing, Hudson, NH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/24/00 Executive and Dignitary Protection, Colorado Springs, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

7/24-28/00 Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation New York, NY, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

7/31-8/2/00 Bus Collision Analysis, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

8/2/00 Advanced Tactical Management for Commanders and Supervisors, Hillsboro, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/2/00 Effective Media Practices for the Law Enforcement, Hillsboro, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/7/00 Less-Lethal Weapons Instructor Certification Course, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/9/00 Critical Incident Management, Gaithersburg, MD, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/9/00 Cultural Awareness: Train-the-Trainer, Leaven-worth, KS, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/10/00 Ethical Standards in Police Service, Herndon, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/14/00 Preventing and Reducing Elderly Victimization, Colorado Springs, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/14/00 Planning, Designing and Constructing Police Facilities, Toledo, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/14/00 Rapid Deployment to High Risk Incidents, Edgewater, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/21/00 Grant Writing for Law Enforcement Agencies, St. Louis, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/21/00 Determining Patrol Staffing, Deployment, and Scheduling, Bartlett, TN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/21/00 Advanced Crime Analysis, Toledo, OH, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/21/00 Conducting Effective Employment Interviews, Kent, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/24/00 Staffing and Scheduling for Communications/Dispatch, Bartlett, TN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/24/00 Police Leadership: Managing the Future, Muscatine, IA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

8/28-9/1/00 Intermediate Problems in Bus Collision Investigation, White Plains, NY, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

9/6/00 Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Worcester, MA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/7/00 Reducing School Violence, Lakewood, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/11/00 Investigation of Incidents of Excessive Deadly Force, Colorado Springs, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/11/00 Civil Disorder Resolution II: Command Strategies, San Antonio, TX, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/11/00 Value-Centered Leadership: A Workshop on Ethics, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/11/00 Operations and High-Risk...., Chesterfield, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/11-22/00 Collision Investigation for Transit Police and Law Enforcement, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

9/14/00 Highway Interdiction, Baton Rouge, LA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/14/00 Less-Lethal Force Options: Concepts and Considerations, Tigard, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/14-18/00 Bus Collision Analysis, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

9/18/00 Administering a Small Law Enforcement Agency, Spokane, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/18/00 Managing the Training Unit, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/18/00 SWAT II: Advanced Tactical and Hostage Rescue Operations, Chesterfield, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/18/00 Managing the Property and Evidence Function, Alexandria, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/25/00 Contemporary Patrol Administration, Sherwood, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/25/00 Excellence in the FTO Program, White Plains, NY, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/25/00 SWAT Supervisors' Tactics and Management, Aurora, CO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/25/00 Surveillance and Undercover Officer Techniques, Baton Rouge, LA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

9/25-28/00 Effectively Managing Transit Emergencies, Las Vegas, NV, Federal Transit Administration and Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)

9/27/00 Investigation of Computer Crime, Worcester, MA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/2/00 Rapid Deployment to High Risk Incidents, Calgary, Alberta, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/2/00 Criminal Investigative Techniques, Tigard, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/2/00 Advanced Internal Affairs: Proactive Affairs, Knoxville, TN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/5/00 Managing the New Breed: Generation X in Law Enforcement, Chandler, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/16/00 Civil Remedies for Nuisance Abatement, Alexandria, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/16/00 Effective Recruitment Tecniques, Buffalo Grove, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/16/00 Less-Lethal Instructor Certification Course, Ithaca, NY, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/16/00 Ethical Standards in Police Service, Waukegan, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/23/00 Planning, designing and Constructing Police Facilities, Alexandria, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/23/00 Risk Management for Law Enforcement Agencies, Cape May, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/23/00 First Line Supervision, Glendale, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/23/00 Multi-Agency Incident Management for Law Enforcement, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/25/00 Police Law and Legal Issues: What Every Police...., Washington Township, NJ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

10/30/00 Advanced Tactical Management or Commanders and Supervisors, Roanoke, VA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/1/00 Tactical Entry Operations, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/2/00 Advanced Grant Writing and Management, Henderson, NV, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/2/00 Developing a Legally Defensible Curriculum, Huntington Beach, CA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/8/00 Administering and Managing Campus Law Enforcement, Seattle, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/9/00 Managing the Training Unit, Huntington Beach, CA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/13/00 Cultural Awareness: Train-the-Trainer, Sherwood, OR, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/13/00 Managing Criminal Investigations, Sparks, NV, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

11/13/00 Implementing a Yougt Intervention Program, Phoenix, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/4/00 Managing the Internal Affairs Unit, Maple Grove, MN, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/4/00 Effective Recruitment Techniques, Sunnyvale, CA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/4/00 SWAT Supervisors' Tactics and Management, Worcester, MA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/4/00 New Chiefs' Development Seminar, Buffalo Grove, IL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/4/00 Police/Medical Investigation of Death, Miami, FL, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/6/00 Crisis Negotiations, Tucson, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/7/00 Excellence in the FTO Program, St. Charles, MO, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/11/00 Value-Centered Leadership: A Workshop on Ethics...., Phoenix, AZ, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

12/11/00 Critical Incident Management, Seattle, WA, International Association of Chiefs of Police (800, THE IACP)

Let Us Hear From You. If you have any activities that would be of interest regarding transit security, a staff member whom you want to commend for some outstanding or heroic action, or just about anything dealing with transit security, please let us hear from you. Fax your material to the number below--we will find a place for it in the newsletter.

Note: Information for this newsletter may be sent to Edith Rodano, Office of Safety and Security, Federal Transit Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D. C. 20590 (202, 366-0191; Fax: 366-7951) or Edith.Rodano@fta.dot.gov by June 15, 2000.