METRO TRANSIT POLICE FORCE - AMERICA'S FIRST TRISTATE, MULTIJURISDICTIONAL POLICE FORCE

• NCJ Number: 52281
• Journal: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 47 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 16-22
• Author(s): M HANNON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CONCEPT AND MISSION OF THE POLICE FORCE EMPLOYED BY THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY (WMATA) IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WITH REGARD TO TRANSIT SAFETY AND RIDERSHIP PROTECTION ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE WMATA IS COMPRISED OF METROBUS, A SURFACE TRANSIT FACILITY, AND METRORAIL, HIGH-SPEED MASS TRANSIT RAIL SYSTEM. METRORAIL HAS ABOUT 25 MILES OF OPERATIONAL TRACK AND 29 RAIL STATIONS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT METRORAIL WILL HAVE 556 CARS, 7 JURISDICTIONALLY BASED TRAIN REPAIR YARDS, 5 GEOGRAPHICALLY PLACED COMMUNICATION RELAY STATIONS, 29,347 REVENUE-PRODUCING PARKING SPACES IN 32 PARKING LOTS, FEEDER BUS AND TAXI SERVICE LANES AT OUTLYING SUBURBAN TRAIN STATION LOCATIONS, AND A FULLY AUTOMATED FARE CARD COLLECTION SYSTEM BY 1985. THE POLICE FORCE SERVING THE METRORAIL IS COMPOSED OF BOTH UNIFORM AND PLAIN CLOTHES PERSONNEL. IN THE INTERESTS OF EFFICIENCY, A JOINT POLICING CONCEPT BETWEEN LOCAL AND TRANSIT POLICE HAS EVOLVED. METRO TRANSIT POLICE ASSUME PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY ON TRAINS AND FUND-GENERATING PROPERTIES AND IN TUNNELS, WHILE LOCAL POLICE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RAIL STATIONS, PARKING LOTS, AND BUSES. A FOUR-PHASE TRAINING CURRICULUM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE TRANSIT POLICE FORCE: BASIC OFFICER ENTRANCE LEVEL TRAINING; SPECIAL TRAINING RECEIVED FROM PERSONNEL OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE FORCE AND SPECIALIZED COURSES IN FEDERAL LAW, HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS, AND FIREARMS TRAINING CONDUCTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION; SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION RECEIVED FROM PERSONNEL OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA POLICE ACADEMY AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WITH COUNTY POLICE; AND INSTRUCTION IN TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF TRANSIT POLICE IS HIGH-VISIBILITY PATROL FOR TRAINS AND STATION PLATFORM AREAS TO CREATE AN AURA OF PASSENGER SAFETY THROUGH CONSPICUOUS POLICE PRESENCE. AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF THE TRANSIT POLICE FORCE IS PROVIDED. (DEP)