Major Disaster Drill Planned for D. C. Area
As part of the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Emergency Preparedness Training, Federal and local emergency planners in the Washington, D. C., area have scheduled a major disaster drill for September 22 as part of stepped-up preparations for any lethal chemical or biological attack. The drill will include the Maryland and Virginia suburbs and involve hundreds of emergency personnel as well as participation by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and several area hospitals.
During an incident last summer at B'nai B'rith headquarters in Washington, it became apparent that the area's emergency response personnel were not prepared to handle an incident of this sort. This incident, involving a suspicious package labeled as "anthrax," which was opened by first responders, turned out to be a hoax, but could have endangered thousands had it actually contained anthrax.
The D. C. area consists of the City of Washington with over 300,000 Federal employees occupying numerous Federal buildings, and parts of both Maryland and Virginia which include a number of local jurisdictions. In order to better prepare for any sort of major disaster, whether natural or man-made, the area has put together a regional strike team of first responders who have received special training and equipment for handling such disasters.
In addition, the General Services Administration (GSA) is training key employees in the area as well as throughout the country to deal with a chemical or biological attack on a Federal building. Because these agents can be introduced into the ventilation, heating, and cooling systems, ways are being examined to protect these systems, including restricting access to them. Later this year, GSA is planning to assemble engineers and scientists for a conference to assist the Federal Government in preparing for a terrorist attack on a Federal building.
Tag BART, Go To Jail. A number of vandals have been cited and arrested under BART's anti-graffiti program called "Tag Team" begun in January 1997. This program involves seven BART departments with the mission of "zero tolerance;" there are no warnings for anyone caught committing acts of graffiti or vandalism. Through April 10, 1998, there have been 106 graffiti vandalism arrests and BART has received restitution in these cases totaling nearly $10,000.
BART police request a 1-year suspended sentence for convicted offenders, restitution from parents for all damages caused by their children, and, where appropriate, felony charges for both adult and juvenile offenders. It is aimed at youth who tend to "tag" BART areas without regard for public property.
BART's program includes video cameras on trains, the ad campaign, a 48-hour removal program, rewards to the public for reporting graffiti vandals, and education to youth via local school presentations. It includes posters, banners, and electronic messages at BART stations, such as "Don't Dis the Train" and "BART Is Your Turf," and includes a rap video. BART spends an average of $1.6 million annually to clean up graffiti vandalism. Information on graffiti vandalism is invited on a confidential basis and is subject to reward if that information leads to conviction of the vandals.
For further information on this program, call Lieutenant Gregg Savage at 510, 464-7010.
"Top Dog" Does It Again! Washington Metro Transit Police Officer Art Flasher and his canine, Axle, competed in the recent Narcotics Detector Trials competition on April 11, 1998, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, sponsored by the U. S. Police Canine Association. Approximately 60 canine teams from Region III (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia) participated.
The competition was conducted in two phases: Phase I consisted of vehicle searches for narcotics and Phase II consisted of building searches. Canine Axle and Officer Flasher finished first with a total score of 198.67 out of a possible 200. The team received a certificate medallion along with the first place trophy. "After all the training we go through, it is very rewarding to observe your dog perform to the top of his abilities, especially on test day," remarked Officer Flasher.
Office Flasher and Axle also finished first during training at the Metropolitan Police of D. C. Canine Patrol Unit Patrol Dog Class in December 1997.
Officer of the Quarter. Washington Metro Transit Police Officer Derrick A. B. Wigglesworth was named Officer of the First Quarter for heroism. On January 3, 1998, at the Stadium-Armory Metrorail Station, Officer Wigglesworth observed two individuals fighting on the platform. One was brandishing a knife and the other had been cut. Because of the close proximity to each other of the two parties involved, Officer Wigglesworth, placing himself in immediate danger, opted to kick the weapon from the aggressor's hand. Said Wigglesworth, "I'm glad I was in the right place to prevent a tragedy." After disarming the individual, Officer Wigglesworth rendered aid to the injured victim until medical assistance arrived.
News from the APTA Rapid Transit Conference. At the recent Rapid Transit Conference in San Diego, APTA's Manager of System Safety and Security, Paul Lennon, announced that he was leaving APTA June 19 to take the position of Director of Safety at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority. He will assume his duties there on July 6. Good luck to Paul in his new position and new home on the West Coast!
The Public Safety Committee (formerly the Police Security Committee) met during the Rapid Transit Conference to decide on a new chair and vice chair and to discuss issues such as the change to the Committee by-laws. Len Diamond of New Jersey Transit Police Support Services was elected Chairman and Mike Walker, Chief Security Officer of the Toronto Transit Commission, was elected Vice Chairman. Congratulations Len and Mike!
Protecting Surface Transportation Systems and Patrons from Terrorist Activities. Enclosed for your information is a flyer describing the report which was discussed in the May issue of this newsletter. The flyer contains an excellent project summary, lists some preliminary conclusions, and gives ordering information.
8/5-7 XIII Annual International Symposium on Criminal Justice Issues, Chicago, IL, Office of International Criminal Justice (312, 996-9595)
8/13-19 American Correctional Association Congress of Correction, Detroit, MI (301, 918-1800)
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)
9/18-20 1998 Terrorism Responders Conference, Boise, ID, Idaho Terrorism Task Force (208, 334-3216)
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)
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)
7/20-24 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Milwaukee, WI, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
7/27-28 Biological Weapons Tabletop Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Chicago, IL, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
8/3-7 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, New Orleans, LA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
8/10-14 Bus Accident Investigation, St. Louis, MO, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
8/11-13 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Detroit, MI, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
8/11-28 Advanced Problems in Bus Accident Investigation, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
8/17-28 The Step-by-Step Guide to Better Facility Security, American Management Association (800, 832-3919, or 913, 345-2140/FAX: 800, 914-8879); 8/17--Ellicott City, MD, 8/18--Washington, DC, 8/19--Cleveland, OH, 8/20--Columbus, OH, 8/25--Oak Lawn, IL, 8/26--Minneapolis, MN, 8/27--St. Louis, MO, 8/28--Kansas City, MO
8/24-28 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Providence, RI, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
8/31-9/4 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Albuquerque, NM, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/3-4 Win Against Terrorism: Response to CBN Terrorism, Seattle, WA, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority/International Association of Chiefs of Police (703, 968-2419)
9/6 BALTEX V (CWIRP), Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Baltimore, MD, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/14-18 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Salt Lake City, UT, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/14-25 Advanced Problems in Bus Accident Investigation, Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682)
9/15-17 KEYSTONE 2-98, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Philadelphia, PA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/21-25 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, St. Louis, MO, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/22-23 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Washington, DC, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
9/28-10/2 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Nashville, TN, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/2-5 Chemical Weapons Exercise/Biological Weapon Tabletop, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, San Jose, CA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/5-8 Chemical Weapons Exercise/Biological Weapon Tabletop, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Milwaukee, WI, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/5-9 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Tucson, AZ, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/12-16 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Charlotte, NC, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/13-14 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Baltimore, MD, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/19-23 Intermediate Information Operations/Warfare (Secret Clearance), Washington, DC, National Defense University, Institute for National Strategic Studies (202, 685-2209)
10/19-23 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Virginia Beach, VA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/26-30 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Virginia Beach, VA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/26-30 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, El Paso, TX, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
10/28-30 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, San Antonio, TX, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/2-6 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Sacramento, CA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/10-11 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, San Francisco, CA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/11-16 WESTWIND Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Los Angeles, CA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/16-20 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Cleveland, OH, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/18-19 Chemical Weapons Exercise, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Seattle, WA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
11/30-12/4 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Austin, TX, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
12/14-18 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Oklahoma City, OK, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
1/4-8 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Colorado Springs, CO, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
1/11-15 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Buffalo, NY, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
2/1-5 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Minneapolis, MN, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
2/8-12 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Pittsburgh, PA, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
2/22-26 Train the Trainer, Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Training, Omaha, NE, Department of Defense (202, 366-6541)
First Responder Guide Card. Attached is camera copy for a First Responders Guide for Chemical/Biological Terrorism which was provided by the Los Angeles Operational Area. By printing on both sides, you can produce cards for distribution throughout your organization.
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 August 15, 1998.