San Diego Trolley Toughens Policy on Fare Evaders
The 45-mile San Diego Trolley has recently reassigned personnel to special details to crack down on fare evaders and those who commit “quality of life” violations, including drinking alcohol, smoking, drunkenness, and disorderly conduct. They now field a plainclothes team daily and saturate certain portions of the system with large contingents of uniformed officers to inspect fares of all passengers at identified stops throughout the system. This use of plain clothes teams has had a significant impact on the number of vandalism arrests on the system: 14 during the first six months of 1998 as compared to 41 during the second half of the year. They have also increased fare inspection of passengers attending special events, such as football and baseball games.
According to Transit Security Administrator Steve Blackwood, officers are working in teams more than was previously the case. This concept is helpful to the officers especially when approaching and confronting groups of offenders or individual offenders who may be belligerent or violent. Mr. Blackwood indicated that police departments and the county sheriff have been cooperating with inspectors, which seems to enhance the training and enforcement awareness of Trolley security staff. These changes in deployment and philosophy have resulted in a 50% increase in apprehension of violators across the spectrum of offenses.
For further information, contact Steve Blackwood at 619, 595-4947.
Detroit Transit Corporation Police Officers Have Exciting Lunch. A stop at a local market last January turned into an exciting lunch for Detroit Transit Police Officers Adrienne Roby and Floyd Neeley. Officer Neeley, who was waiting in the cruiser while Officer Roby picked up their lunch, observed a vehicle with two males parked in front of the market. As he watched, one of the men entered the market while the second remained at the wheel of heir vehicle. Several minutes later, the suspect ran from the market with Officer Roby and the store manager in pursuit. He jumped into the vehicle which sped off with Officers Roby and Neeley giving chase. Officer Neeley forced the other car to stop and both occupants were ordered to keep their hands in sight. As Officer Neeley prepared to cuff the pair, the passenger attempted to run and was subdued by Officer Roby. Both men were taken into custody and turned over to the Detroit Police. According to the store manager, one of the men had previously cashed a bad payroll check at his store.
Transit Police Supervisors Sergeants Beverly Fleming and Beverly Snyder joined Officers Roby and Neeley as both police officers received recognition for their quick action and bravery from Albert A. Martin, Detroit Transportation Corporation General Manager, the Detroit Police Department, and management of the Trolley Market company.
For further information, contact Portland Works at 313, 963-0171.
MARTA Police Department Awards. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority held its annual Awards Luncheon on May 11, 1999. The Mistress of Ceremonies was Monica Kaufman, a local TV anchor woman and community leader, with State Representative Jimmy Benefield, Chair of the State House of Representatives Transportation Committee as speaker. Twenty-five awards were presented at the event, including Civilian Awards given to two individuals who assisted the Department in significant ways. One was given to Henry Murray, a MARTA station maintainer, who came to the assistance of an officer being viciously attacked by a wanted subject, and the other to a person who apprehended the officer’s assailant.
The highlight of the ceremony was presentation of the Police Officer of the Year Award to Officer Sylvester Hitchcock, a 7-year veteran of MARTA’s Police Department, who also received the Medal of Valor for his skillful and courageous arrest of a suspect who had stabbed a bus driver and a passenger. Officer Hitchcock was recognized for “outstanding performance of duty” and for his past awards and citations from the Department. He is the recipient of six awards, including two separate Lifesaving Medals. He was also selected 1999 Police Officer of the Year by the Decatur-Stone Mountain Elks Lodge.
For further information, call John Dankel at 404, 898-4916.
MBTA Terrorism Training. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston has developed an interactive, progressive counter-terrorism training program designed specifically for transit systems. It covers such situations such as train hostages, felonies at bus stops, incendiary devices, secondary devices, and response to chemical and biological threats. The MBTA Police will be assisted in various stages of this innovative training by the FBI, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police and Fire Departments, and the Transportation Safety Institute.
The weekend drill exercise was developed by Jeffrey Beatty of Total Security Services International, a Washington based security consulting firm. Mr. Beatty, a former Delta Force Army Officer, teamed with Captain Geoffrey Hunter of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police.
This course is part of a week-long, in-service training program that combines both classroom and practical exercises. The goal is to ensure the police, fire fighters, and emergency medical workers do not rush blindly into a situation and become the next wave of victims, either by accident or by terrorist design. During the exercises, officers are encouraged to make creative use of available resources, such as the MBTA Police K-9 Unit or Explosives Detection Team.
For further information, contact Deputy Chief William Fleming at 617, 222-1121.
Crisis Intervention Management Training
The FTA Office of Safety and Security now has available for distribution the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Crisis Intervention Management Training Program for Train Crews. This program was developed under an FTA contract with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, working in conjunction with the LIRR. The training module is designed to give transit crews and operating personnel recommended guidelines for identifying and dealing with persons who appear to be at risk of, or are already experiencing a crisis. It focuses on those events that might jeopardize the normal conduct of transit operations and the safety of riders, crews, and the public. The module consists of a videotape, student guide, instructor’s guide, and visuals. If you would like to obtain a copy of this training program at no cost, please send a blank videotape to Edith Rodano
(see below). The printed materials and visuals can be made available in hard copy or via electronic media. If you are interested, please contact Edith Rodano at the address given at the end of this newsletter.
For further information, contact Detective Charles Wendel at 212, 878-1013.
Safety and Security on the Internet
The FTA Office of Safety and Security has a home page on the Internet. On it you will find information on the following: transit security, including security audits, prior issues of this newsletter, security report availability, and a calendar of Events of Interest to FTA; transit safety, which includes human factors, state safety oversight of rail fixed guideway systems, drug and alcohol testing, emergency management, fire/life safety, and reports and the capability to order them; the Transportation Safety Institute Safety and Security Training Program. The site can be accessed at http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov.
For further information, contact Alison Thompson at 617, 494-2108.
RailCop Magazine. There is a new magazine available which may be of interest to readers of this newsletter. RailCop, originally aimed at railroad police, has changed its focus slightly to include transit as well. There is also information that would be of interest to bus system. RailCop is published quarterly at a rate of $8 yearly for four issues and $12 for international subscriptions, payable in U. S. currency. For additional information, contact RailCop at P. O. Box 1003, North Branford, CT 06471-1003 (203, 494-9884) or E-Mail the editor, Stephen D. Curran, at currans@pcnet.com.
In the article on Community Policing in a Transit Community in the May issue of the Newsletter, the phone number for Officer Michael Garrity was incorrect. His number is 716, 855-7660.
9/20-23 1999 Environmental Protection Agency Region III Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Precention Conference, Washington, DC (877, 804-DEPP)
10/10-14 American Public Transit Association Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL (202, 898-4038; Fax: 898-4029)
10/13-14 American Public Transit Association TransiTech Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, FL (202, 898-4038; Fax: 898-4029)
11/13-17 Canadian Urban Transit Association Fall Conference and Trans-Expo Trade Show, Edmonton, Alberta (416, 365-9800; Fax: 365-1295)
1/9-13/00 Transportation Research Board 79th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (202, 334-2934; Fax: 334-2003)
4/9-11/00 American Public Transit Association Commuter Rail Conference, Long Island, NY (202, 898-4040; Fax: 898-4029)
5/00 Canadian Urban Transit Association Annual Conference, Victoria, British Columbia (416, 365-9800; Fax: 365-2395)
5/7-11/00 American Public Transit Association Bus Conference, Houston, TX (202, 898-4040; Fax: 898-4029)
5/11-15 American Public Transit Association Rapid Transit Conference, St. Louis, MO (202, 898-4040; Fax: 898-4029)
9/24-28/00 American Public Transit Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (202, 898-4040; Fax: 898-4029)
11/11-15/00 American Public Transit Association Light Rail Conference, Dallas, TX (202, 898-4040; Fax: 898-4029)
7/13-14 Fatigue Awareness Seminar, Atlanta, GA, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
7/19-23 Effectively Managing Transit Emergencies, Portland, OR, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
7/19-23 Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation, Honolulu, HI, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
7/26-30 Intermediate Problems in Bus Collision Investigation, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
8/2-6 Transit Rail Accident Investigation, Washington, DC, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
8/10-11 Fatigue Awareness Seminar, Denver, CO, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
8/24 Transit Explosives Incident Management Seminar, New Britain, CT, Federal Transit Administration/Trans- portation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
8/25 Transit Explosives Incident Management Seminar, New Britain, CT, Federal Transit Administration/Trans- portation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
9/8-9 Fatigue Awareness Seminar, Milwaukee, WI, Federal Transit Administration/Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
9/20-24 Accident Investigation: Bus Collision Analysis (Pilot), Oklahoma City, OK, Federal Transit Administration/ Transportation Safety Institute (405, 954-3682; Fax: 954-0367)
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 tion, 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, 1999.