The MARTA Police Department in Atlanta has established a Bomb Assessment Team, first conceived during planning for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The explosion that occurred during the games and subsequent similar events support the need for such a unit.
One MARTA Police Sergeant and two Police Officers were selected for this new team. The Sergeant and one Officer have completed the Hazardous Devices course at the U. S. Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The third Officer, who will work with the Department's new explosives detection dog, has recently completed the K-9 Explosives Detection Team Program at Lackland Air Force Base. Admiral Paul Pluta and Sherrie Anderson of the U. S. Department of Transportation Office of Intelligence and Security were instrumental in helping to arrange for this training.
This new unit has been provided an extensive inventory of equipment, including two blast protection suits and a bomb robot. A portable X-ray unit has been purchased. Three vehicles are available, including a van to carry the robot and associated equipment and a Ford Explorer for the K-9 Team. The Bomb Assessment Team has now been activated. The training of its officers and acquisition of the necessary equipment is complete. The Team will respond to incidents on the MARTA system but will also be available to assist law enforcement agencies in surrounding jurisdictions when requested. For further information, contact Sergeant Bart Humble of the MARTA Police Department at 404, 848-4900.
Department of Defense to Add Ten Chem-Bio Response Teams
According to an announcement released in mid-March by Department of Defense Secretary William Cohen, DOD will create ten emergency teams to help domestic agencies respond quickly to attacks using chemical or biological weapons. Cohen announced plans to include these 22-member teams in the part-time National Guard to increase its ability to quickly assess any potential threat from weapons of mass distruction. The ten teams will be stationed in areas to be designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will be backed by National Guard teams on call for such emergencies and specializing in such areas as chemical and biological decontamination.
The Army and Marine Corps currently have a small number of such teams, including experts who can identify chemical and biological agents; their funding would be increased by $49.2 million for Fiscal Year 1999. These teams, the first rapid assessment teams, will ensure that DOD is well prepared for attacks using weapons of mass destruction. The initial response teams will be backed by National Guard Teams specializing in areas, such as chemical and biological decontamination, who are on call for such emergencies.
The Transit Policing Journal can now be found on-line. The site is divided into three major segments: (1) The Journal which contains select sections from the most recent issue, archives, author information, the editorial board listing, and a call for papers; (2) news, which contains new and archived items of interest to transit police planners, analysts, commanders, and tacticians; and (3) resources, which contains links, a glossary, and a search engine. The site, which can be found at http:// home1.gte.net.tpnews/index.htm, is designed to augment the print version of the Journal.
Emergency Preparedness for Transit Terrorism, A Synthesis of Transit Practice, TCRP Synthesis 27, by Annabelle Boyd and John P. Sullivan, 1997. Available at $21 from the Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418, and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.nas.edu/trb/index.html. Improving Transit Security, A Synthesis of Transit Practice, TCRP Synthesis 21, by Jerome A. Needle and Renee M. Cobb, 1997. Available at $15 from the Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418, and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.nas.edu/trb/index.html.
Protecting Surface Transportation Systems and Patrons from Terrorist Activities: Case Studies of Best Security Practices and a Chronology of Attacks, IISTPS Report 97-4, by Brian Michael Jenkins, December 1997. Available from the Norman Y. Mineta International Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies, College of Business, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0219, Telephone: 408, 924-7560/Fax: 408, 924-7565.
Historical Dictionary of Terrorism by Sean Anderson and Stephen Sloan. Available from University Press of America, Inc., 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706, $57, Telephone 301, 459-3366.
Critical Foundations: Protecting America's Infrastructures, The Report of the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, October 1997. Available on the Internet at www.pccip.gov.
May American Public Transit Association Risk Management Seminar, Cincinnati, OH (202, 898-4057)
5/5-7 ID Expo Trade Show and Conference, Philadelphia, PA (800, 331-5706)
5/17-21 National Fire Protection Association Annual Meeting and Fire Safety Exhibit, Cincinnati, OH (617, 770-3000)
5/31-6/1 International Security Conference and Exposition, Chicago, IL (203, 840-5405)
6/7-11 American Public Transit Association Rapid Transit Conference, San Diego, CA (202, 898-4085)
6/10 American Society on Industrial Security Meeting, D. C. Chapter, Fort Myer, VA
6/26-28 Search and Rescue Disaster Response '98 World Conference and Expo, Nashville, TN (847, 458-0420)
8/5-7 XIII Annual International Symposium on Criminal Justice Issues, Chicago, IL, Office of International Criminal Justice (312, 996-9595)
9/1-3 International Security Conference and Exposition, New York, NY (203, 840-5405)
9/14-17 American Society for Industrial Security Seminar and Exhibit, Dallas, TX (703, 522-5800)
10/4-8 American Public Transit Association Annual Conference, New York, NY (202, 898-4038/49)
10/7-9 1st International Conference on Computer Simulation in Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation, Valencia, Spain, Wessex Institute of Technology (44 1703 293223)
10/17-22 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, UT (703, 836-6767)
10/19-21 National Safety Council Congress and Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA (630-775-2303)
5/5-6 Bus Accident Investigation Seminar, Atlanta, GA, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
5/7-8 Threat Management and Response to Bus Hijacking, Miami, FL, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (two ½-day sessions) (405, 954-3682)
5/11-15 Effectively Managing Transit Emergencies, Denver, CO, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
5/18-22 Bus Accident Investigation, Raleigh, NC, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
5/28-29 Bus Casualty Extrication Seminar, White Plains, NY, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
6/2-3 Bus Accident Investigation Seminar, Hartford, WI, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
6/2-3 The Changing National Security Environment: Discussions with Key Players and Policymakers, Washington, DC, The Brookings Institution (202, 797-6299)
6/15-19 Bus Accident Investigation, Modesto, CA, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
6/22-26 Effectively Managing Transit Emergencies, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
6/29-30 Threat Management and Response to Bus Hijacking, Washington, DC, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (two ½-day sessions) (405, 954-3682)
6/29-30 Win Against Terrorism: Response to CBN Terrorism, Toledo, OH, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority/International Association of Chiefs of Police (703, 968-2419)
7/6-17 Advanced Problems in Bus Accident Investigation, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
7/13-17 Intermediate Information Operations/Warfare (Secret Clearance), Washington, DC, National Defense University, Institute for National Strategic Studies (202, 685-2209)
7/20-31 Advanced Problems in Bus Accident Investigation, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
8/10-14 Bus Accident Investigation, St. Louis, MO, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
9/3-4 Win Against Terrorism: Response to CBN Terror-ism, Seattle, WA, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority/ International Association of Chiefs of Police (703, 968-2419)
9/14-25 Advanced Problems in Bus Accident Investigation, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
10/19-23 Intermediate Information Operations/Warfare (Secret Clearance), Washington, DC, National Defense University, Institute for National Strategic Studies (202, 685-2209)
We weren't quite sure where to include this one, but it allegedly came off of the AP wire.
A Tokyo commuter caused havoc on a crowded tube train when his underpants unexpectedly inflated. He had made the rubber underwear himself and designed it to inflate to 30 times its normal size in the event of a tidal wave. He stated "I am terrified of water and death by drowing is my greatest fear. Unfortunately, I set them off accidently while looking for a boiled sweet on a rush hour train. They were crushing everybody in the carriage until a passenger stabbed them with a pencil."
The San Diego Trolley recently named a new Chief of Security. He is John L. Hanlon, Chief of Security for the North County Transit District He is expected to assume his duties at San Diego beginning on May 4. Mr. Hanlon has a total of 27 years' experience in law enforcement and private security. He worked for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department from 1971 to 1981, including seven years as a detective. He headed security for four private employers from 1981 to 1993 when he took over the security position for North County Transit. He has frequently worked with San Diego Trolley officials to coordinate security efforts involving both agencies. Congratulations John Hanlon!
Correction. In the article regarding the merger of the Long Is-land Rail Road and Metro North Police Departments which appeared March 1998 issue of this newsletter, we incorrectly referred to the two divisions as the MTA Eastern and Western Divisions. That should read Eastern and Northern Division.
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. Simply fax your material to the number given below--we will find a place for it in the newsletter.
Address Corrections. If you note any inaccuracies on the address label, please fax corrections to the number below along with your phone and FAX numbers.
Note: Information for inclusion in the next issue of this newsletter should 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 by E-Mail to Edith.Rodano@fta.dot.gov no later than June 15, 1998.