WSTA Transit Security Council Meeting hosted by King County Metro
Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 9:00am – 12:00pm
King County Metro 

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:
Captain Dave Jutilla, Metro Transit Police
Geoffrey Getchman, Seattle Police Department
Rod Baker, Pierce Transit
Robert Isaman, WA State Emergency Management
Phil Early, Intercity Transit
Sheldon Breaux, Kitsap Transit
Bob Medcraft, C-Tran
Ray Hawkins, Pierce Transit
Bill Cassio, Pierce County, S.D.
David Sorenson, Community Transit
Don Burr, Community Transit
Robert Muzzy, Whatcom Transportation Authority
Mike Burris, Community Transit
Dave Fairbanks, King County Metro

Absent Members:
Joan Cormany, Pierce Transit
Michelle Parvinen, WSTA
Carol Cummings, Metro Transit Police
Sgt. Dave Redding, Pierce County Sheriff’s Dept.
Kenneth Cummins, Security Officer (Sound Transit)?
Doug Jeske, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Dept.
Chuck Cox, King County Metro
Jim Dusevoir, Amtrack Transit Police
Roland Bradley, Metro Transit
Tracy Christianson, WSTIP
John Harkins, Pierce Transit

Minutes Taken By:
Beverly McCarter

·        WSTA Meeting Minutes Review and Approval
Beverly will e-mail the previous meeting’s minutes out after today’s meeting.  All will be asked to review and get any edits or changed back to Beverly so she can finalize these minutes. 

·        Legislative Review Issues

RCW 9.91.025 Discussion
Dave Jutilla passed out a copy of the proposed changes to the RCW.  He requested everyone present review and decide as a group if this is ready to be given to a lobbyist or if we should make additional changes or edits. 

It was suggested that a letter of endorsement from the Prosecutor’s Office would be desirable.  We will forward our proposed changes to the Prosecutor’s office for review before we give them to a lobbyist. 

There was further discussion about additional changes needed to various sections:

·        This group would like reference to smoking in the RCW since the Attorney General’s office includes transit & transit shelters under the prohibition against smoking.

·        This group would like the operator of a transit vehicle to have the authority to remove drunk individuals from the vehicle if they are being disruptive.

·        This group would like an officer to have the authority to remove drunk individuals from a transit vehicle or transit shelter if they are being disruptive. 

·        This group would like an officer to have the authority to act if someone is suspected of being under the influence of, or in the possession of, methamphetamines.

Dave will review and incorporate all changes then e-mail the document back out to the group.  Dave stated he would like for this to be ready for the next legislative session in Jan ’08.

Rod Baker moved that the review and preparation for this document be placed into a timeline with defined goals so it is ready to be presented at the next legislative session in January ‘08.  This was seconded by Phil Early. 

·        DHS TRIPwire Program
A handout was distributed regarding a DHS Sponsored, on-line system based in San Francisco – The DHS TRIPwire program.  They have worldwide info on bomb squads, law enforcement; all information on previous bombings (including attempts where the bomb was successfully disarmed) is available & new bombing information is available within 72 of the event.  They have a private sector website opening in January.  Non law enforcement entities can register now and be approved when it comes out.  The “Law Enforcement” website has more detailed and specific information and is available right now. This is a free membership and it takes 48 hours for approval.   

·        NTI
Rod informed the group that NTI will have a free online/phone conference class discussing TCRP (dealing with public inspections like at the airport).   

·        Information Sharing on Long Term Suspensions
Dave Jutilla moved to postpone this topic to the next meeting; seconded by Rod Baker.        

·        Camera Coach Presentation
o   Metro is currently in the process of awarding a contract for implementing camera surveillance on their vehicles.  Dave Fairbanks gave a presentation. 

o   They started trying systems in 2002 – their first system had problems.  They wanted to try the wireless component so they went with Transit Surveillance Systems – this system had a lot of quality control issues – there was a 50% failure rate.  It was decided (since 270 units were already installed and Vehicle Maintenance couldn’t keep up with the need for repair) to reduce the total number to 110 TSS boxes and rebuild all the boxes.  This was successful and they now only have a 2% - 3% failure rate.  The wireless component works – but now bridges are necessary and so the wireless will be delayed until they can purchase the bridges. 

 o   Metro tried Varrant, GE & Apollo – Apollo worked well – the other 2 systems had many difficulties as they proposed all new equipment and software which had not been previously tested. 

o   Apollo was their final choice (based out of Bellevue) and they now expect delivery of systems in January.  They will be installing 15 – 20 coaches per month until all are installed (total of 140).   With Apollo, the agency doesn’t need proprietary software to play the recorded image – this makes it very easy since you can play the image on anything with a media player.   This system has sound and is very user friendly.   Apollo was able to use Metro’s existing cameras – the Varrant cameras are higher quality so they are looking to possibly install these at a later date. 

o   Metro has an SOP regarding how video is distributed and is willing to make it available upon request.  Metro can also recommend how to alleviate operator fears regarding the cameras being used as a performance surveillance tool.

o   There were questions regarding the legality of recording audio on the vehicle without consent.  Metro stated they verified that audio can be recorded on a public means of conveyance.  Metro has it posted that the bus is a recorded bus and that consent is given upon boarding.

o   Metro is working on protocol for archiving this info so it can be used as evidence in criminal trials.  They have already received some phone calls requesting tape from surrounding incidents that were unrelated to transit but were captured on the vehicles cameras. 

o   The current cost per bus is roughly $4,500.00 – $5,500.00 for a 4-camera configuration. 4 cameras = 36 days of video with a 500 gigabyte system – Apollo also has terabytes available now. Any time the bus is on it is recording, in addition to 45 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off; operators don’t have to do anything to initiate.  There was the option to have the operators push a button to flag an event and Metro started with this option in place but found the operators would push the button more often than the system could handle and this would crash the system.  

o   Metro’s goal is for every deputy in service to be able to see what is going on in any camera coach.   They would like to have a centralized monitoring center that would show real-time activity of all coaches in service. 

o   Rod stated that since King and Pierce counties overlap it would be beneficial for Pierce Transit to have a system that would be compatible with Metro’s for increased inter-communicability.  Dave Fairbanks suggested Rod talk to Rowan Bradley 206-263-3490. 

·        Tour of Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT)
Deputy Patrick McCurdy gave the group an overview of the history of the tunnel and some background on the individual stops we will visit on the tour.  Sergeants Troy Olmstead & Lance Dauber joined the tour. 

Tunnel History
The Tunnel is about 1.3 miles long, there are 2 vehicle entrances, multiple pedestrian entrances, two open-air stations & three underground.  It was built before 9/11; the safety features are designed to help people exit quickly (there are hatches that spring open onto the sidewalks).  There are barricades at either end, monitored by cameras. The busses send unique radio signals so to trigger their approach so the barricade is not activated.  The barricades can also be activated manually.  There are receiver stations in the Tunnel that are like pinpoints and as the vehicle passes the pinpoints it sends a relay back to the base so they know when the bus has passed each section – if they deviate or if they are in rural areas they cannot rack very well.

Since tunnel has been opened – there has been an increase in theft as it is more accessible to everyone.  There also used to be transient camps in the system - which have been reduced due to some changes – but there are still some camps they have to address occasionally. 

This meeting ended at 11:18 a.m.

All who wished to go on the tour visited the following stops:

o   Transit Control Center and Link Control Center
o   Sodo Busway Entrance
o   International District Station  (open air station)
o   Pioneer Street Station
o   University Street Station
o   Convention Place Station (open air station)
o   Westlake Station