Metro Transit Police Department Chief Michael A. Taborn August 2012

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Metro Transit Police Department

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is a critical national asset. WMATA transports more than 40% of Federal Government employees to and from work during peak ridership hours

MTPD Overview

• 492 Sworn Officers, 164 Special Police Officers, 53 Civilians

• Jurisdiction and arrest powers throughout the 1,500 square mile transit zone

• Six MTPD Bureaus: o Executive Office of the Chief o Administrative Services Bureau o Office of Emergency Management o Patrol Operations Bureau o Special Operations Bureau o Homeland Security, Investigations and Intelligence Bureau

Highlights 2011 – January - December

• 16% reduction in Part I Crimes

• 1,922 arrests

• 7,020 criminal/civil citations for fare evasion and public conduct violations

• 27% reduction in bus operator assaults (Reduced 90 to 66 assaults)

• The probability of being a victim of a Part I

crime in the Metrorail system is 5.61 per million riders X

X X x

MTPD Identified Crime Trends

• Robberies and Larcenies • Assess crime trends through MetroStat to manage the deployment

of officers • Mobilize Anti-Terrorism Teams(ATT) to blend patrol strategies with

crime prevention goals • Increase the use of casual clothes officers to combat robberies and

larcenies • Educate customers through a strong public awareness campaign

• Youth disorder • Partner with local law enforcement agencies and strategize common

crime prevention goals • High visible uniform presence in stations and parking lots

MTPD Part I Crime Report 5 Year Comparison – Annual

Part I Crime 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Aggravated Assault 106 92 94 136 108

Burglary 5 2 0 5 1

Homicide *1 0 *1 *1 *1

Larceny 739 864 811 925 791

Motor Vehicle Theft 166 181 152 129 83

Attempt Motor Vehicle Theft 117 101 79 65 43

Rape/Sexual Offenses 1 0 1 3 1

Robbery 445 581 894 1,007 871

Total 1,580 1,821 2,032 2,270 1,898

* Homicides reported and investigated by other police agencies.

Special Events

Approximately 600 special events in 2011

Presidential Inauguration - 2009

One of the largest public events in US history

Metrorail weekday ridership record is

set with 1.12 million trips

Houston police officer volunteer saves customer’s life

Threats and Vulnerability

• Most public transportation systems are “open systems” • Office of Domestic Preparedness completed a Threat

and Vulnerability Assessment in 2004; update process is underway

• Must remain vigilant – Mass transit is a soft target – Large crowds – Limited resources – Proximity to public and federal places of interest

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Suspicious Devices

June 25, 2012 Farragut North

June 29, 2012 Fort Totten

May 5, 2011 Bladensburg Bus

Cyber Security

Technology and Equipment

Security Inspection Points

• Begun in December 2010

• Initially conducted with the assistance of Transportation Security Administration

• Equipment tests for traces of explosives

• Carry-on items are not searched unless there is reason to believe suspicious items are contained within

Strategies to Improving Security

• Effective organizational Safety and Security culture

• Employee training • Mass communication to all employees through a

variety of internal mechanisms • Public awareness and outreach • Emergency Preparedness • Passenger Information Display Systems (PIDS) • Local and regional drills with key stakeholders

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MTPD Resources and Capabilities

• Anti-Terrorism Team • Canine Unit • Explosive Ordinance Disposal • Local Joint Terrorism Task Force • National Joint Terrorism Task

Force • Special Response Team • Office of Emergency

Management

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Anti-Terrorism Initiatives

• Operation Blue Tide • Operation RAIL SAFE • Chemical detection program • Bio-Watch program • Target-Train Inspections (TTI) • Portable radiological pagers • Explosive containment trash cans • Relentless outreach/public awareness • License plate readers • Annual training for all employees • Regional drills and exercises

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Partnerships

The Metro Transit Police works in partnership with over 40 law enforcement and government agencies in the National Capital Region (NCR). • Department of Homeland Security • Department of Transportation • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Federal Transit Administration • Department of Defense • Transportation Security Administration • State and Local Law Enforcement • Fire/Rescue

Crime Prevention

Incident Response

WMATA Train Accident June 22, 2009

Coordinated Response Incident Command

Peter G. LaPorte, Director, OEM • Appointed Metro Office of Emergency Director 12/2008

• Former Director of the District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency • Former Massachusetts Emergency Management Director

• Former New York Deputy Commissioner for New York City Police Department • Former Boston Police Department Chief of Staff

• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law. Father of two children, Elizabeth and Peter, Jr. Resides in Virginia

Introduction – Director MTPD Office of Emergency Management

Metro Transit Police Department-Office of Emergency Management (MTPD-OEM)

• Background – Pilot Emergency Management Department – Created Office of Emergency Management

December 2009 within the Metro Transit Police Department

• Goal – Ensure Metro has the strongest and best transit

emergency management team and capabilities in the nation.

– Uniqueness of residing in the Nation’s Capitol and the National Capital Region (NCR)

MTPD-OEM

• Responsibilities – Planning and Preparedness

• Development of emergency plans, procedures, and protocols based on National Incident Management System and Incident Command System

– Training and outreach – Drills/Exercises – Equipment and tools

• Respond to incidents – Special Events planning and coordination – Response and Recovery

MTPD-OEM Staff

• 2 former DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Directors

• Fire/Life Safety Officers – former senior command level fire/police officials

• Engineer • Public health background

– A wealth of experience, well respected throughout the National Capital Region

– Trusted agents – Networking and building working relationships

National Capital Region

Preparedness and Planning

EOP Annexes

• Continuity of Operations • Emergency Operations

Center Manual • Terrorism Incident Annex • Pandemic Flu Plan • Severe Winter Weather • Family Assistance Plan • Future Annexes

– Public Information – Special Events Familiarizing Executive

Leadership with the EOP

EOP Annex

• Special Needs Annex • Code Black Procedures • 86 Rail Station Emergency Response and

Evacuation Plans

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Vehicle Fleet

Command Vehicle

Response Vehicles

Training and Outreach

• Roll over

Training and Outreach

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Large Scale Exercises

2 lg. scale exercises in 2012

At least one lg. scale exercise

scheduled annually

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Life Saving Equipment

Fire Maps

EMS Cabinets

AEDs

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PROTECT Program

Field Access

Alarms activate in OCC

Training in CBEmis

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Rescue Carts

Metro Emergency Recon Vehicles (MERVs)

Emergency Tunnel Evacuation Cart (ETECs)

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Rescue Carts

Responses

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Type of Incidents/Events •Derailments •Injured Patrons •Suspicious Package •Power Outage •Fire/Smoke •System Monitoring – Track Maintenance •Escalators Rehabs •Severe Weather

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Derailments

Derailment/split switch in rail yard

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Derailments

Derailment in rail yard

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Station Evacuation

Station Evacuation – Clarendon Drill

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Bus fires

CNG Bus fire

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Bus Accidents

Bus accident

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Bus Collisions

Bus collision

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Bus Collisions

Bus collision with a train

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Severe Weather

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Persons Struck

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IED/Bomb Scares

Bus garage bomb scare

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IED/Bomb Scares

In-service railcar bomb

scare

Patrons self-evacuated to

the track roadway

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Infrastructure Flooding

Rail tunnel flood

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Infrastructure Fires

Rail tunnel vent shaft

fire

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MTPD-OEM EOC

Headquarters power failure

MTPD-OEM EOC

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Rail Collisions

Collision on mainline

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• Vision • Staff • Grant Awards- Technical Assistance • 24 – 7 accessibility • Emphasis on all EM phases:

– Preparedness/planning – Response – Recovery – Mitigation

• Networking

Accomplishments and Success

Transit Emergency Management

• Cost effective • Reduces risk • Minimizes

liability

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• Emergency Management should be a requirement for all transit systems

• Exploration of local, state, and Federal grant opportunities should be considered to augment the transit systems EM capabilities

• Networking/building relationships with the community, riders, and first responders is critical for success

• EM is ongoing and planning is crucial for preparedness

Conclusion