WSTA Transit Security Council Meeting
hosted by Pierce Transit
Wednesday September 7, 2005,
10:00am – 12:00pm
WSTA Transit Security Council Mission
Statement
To review
transit security information in an effort to advise Washington State Transit Agencies
about training opportunities and the standardization of report procedures, codes of
conduct, security plans, crime-reduction methods, and police/judicial cooperation.
Attendees:
Kevin Bradley, Community Transit
Joan Cormany, Pierce Transit
Phil Early, Intercity Transit
Capt. Nathan Elledge, King County
Sheriff’s Dept.
Gary Gard, Intercity Transit
Geoffrey Getchman, Seattle Police
Department
John Harkins, Pierce Transit
Ray Hawkins, Pierce Transit
Sgt. Phillip Nichols, Snohomish
County Sheriff’s Dept.
Michelle Parvinen, WSTA
Sgt. Dave Redding, Pierce County Sheriff
Dept.
Absent:
Rod Baker, Pierce Transit
Chuck Cox, King County Metro
Dave Fairbanks, King County Metro
Dave Hall, Lakewood Police
Lt. Jerry Ross, Snohomish County
Sheriff’s Dept.
Barb Savary, WSDOT
Alex Wiggins, Sound Transit
Minutes
Taken By:
Beth Kernen
John Harkins
was introduced to the group as the new Transit Security Assistant for Pierce Transit.
There was
discussion around setting up a phone tree for emergency situations.
Ray Hawkins
gave a debriefing on the Louisiana evacuation and procedurese received from the state.
Evacuees will be here anywhere from 30 days to 6 months, and will be dispersed to Pierce,
King, Snohomish, Kitsap, Thurston, and Spokane counties. Children will attend schools
here, but at this time no other integration is planned. The Governor has made this
disaster declaration.
Joan
Shared Some Notes from Rod:
-“Transit
Security Design Considerations Final Report November 2004” are now available on disk
through the FTA. To date, this is one of the best publications the government has
produced.
-As of
September 1, 2005, Pierce Transit and Sound Transit no longer have a contract for
uniformed law enforcement on the Link Light Rail in downtown Tacoma. Also, they no longer
have a contract with Wackenhut Security. Sound Transit now has a contract with Securitas,
a security company equivalent to Wackenhut. The security officers with be in plain clothes
and unarmed. This change is due to budget cuts.
-There
was discussion about the development of the WSTA webpage.
Capt. Nathan
Elledge had a meeting with Rod and the Executive Director of WSTA, to discuss what this
committee is about. Rod and Capt. Elledge will also be making a presentation at WSTA’s
executive meeting next week.
Capt. Elledge
gave updates on the tunnel closure in Seattle beginning September 24th. Metro
has contracted the Seattle Police Department to provide extra traffic control and traffic
enforcement. Capt. Elledge has a meeting with Assistant Chief Bailey of the Seattle Police
Department and Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro today to discuss
handling of this closure. University District emphasis patrols will also be made. Signs
will go up the day of closure, but there will be a grace period of about a week to a week
and a half before fines are issued.
Metro is
running a Homeland Security type drill on October 17th at the south training
facility. This drill will be specific to Metro only.
Sgt. Dave
Redding gave updates on gang problems in the Parkland/Spanaway area. There has also been
an increase in prostitution in this area. Usual problems are also occurring in the Lakewood
area and 72nd.
Kevin Bradley
discussed the intent to re-equip their supervisors with Nextels for communication
purposes.
Gary Gard
talked about putting more cameras in the downtown OTC area and on buses. This is in the
budget for 2006. Gary is retiring at the end of the month. Phil Early will be taking over
as of October 1st as the Fixed Route Manager.
Sgt. Phillip
Nichols talked about a grant to get two canine bomb dogs for the Sheriff’s office.
This would be available as a resource for others as well. There is also a plan to get a
bait car for the south precinct.
Michelle Parvinen talked about the WSTA conference and the
Roadeo.
Capt. Nathan
Elledge had talked to Michelle Parvinen and the executive directors previously and it was
suggested that next year’s theme for the state convention be Transit Security.
Kevin Bradley
talked about surveillance systems on their buses and how it has helped with accident
investigations and claims. The rest of the fleet will be retrofitted to be equipped with
front facing cameras. They are also looking at remote monitoring. New buses will have
cameras over the driver’s left shoulder overlooking the fairbox area and front door.
There was also more discussion among the group about the advantages of the cameras and
about placement of the cameras. Pulling tape off the cameras and using it has been
successful. So far, maintenance on these systems has gone well.
The next
meeting will be held on Tuesday December 6th, 2005, from 10:00am – 12:00pm
at King County Metro.
Meeting was
adjourned at 10:55am.
If you
would like more information about this committee, please contact one of the officers or
Michelle Parvinen at WSTA 360.786.9734, 2629 12th Court SW, Olympia, WA 98502-1118, or
email michelle@watransit.com |
