By Hannah Simon
Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — Members of the Amtrak Police Department (APD), Amtrak Officer of Security Strategy and Special Operations (OSSSO) and British Transport Police (BTP) are on joint patrol this week at several train stations along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The visit from British police marks the first part of a major exchange between the U.S. and U.K. of railroad security and counterterrorism practices. By sharing “lessons learned and best practices,” both groups of law enforcement officers will be better equipped to protect rail passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.
On Tuesday, March 3, BTP Sergeants and Constables witnessed Amtrak’s security operations on all trains, including security by police and tactical forces, counter surveillance personnel, and K-9 detection units. Throughout the week, BTP rail security officials will visit Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, Baltimore’s Penn Station, and New York’s Penn Station.
Amtrak Chief Operating Officer William Crosbie said, “The rail community continues to be a target worldwide, and protecting passengers from harm is paramount. If one member of the community is targeted, we all feel the effects one way or another. By sharing best police practices and lessons learned with our British counterparts and others, we can build a safer and more secure rail environment for riders internationally.”
Railways are part of the transportation network that includes airports and ship harbors that are on high alert for a terrorist attack after last year’s attacks in Mumbai. In the past, terrorist attacks and attempts have specifically targeted railways, providing a catalyst for change in the way law enforcement officers patrol mass transit around the nation.
“We are one team, with one mission, and that is to protect rail and mass transit passengers, patrons and employees from harm, manmade or otherwise,” said Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor.
In September 2008, Amtrak Police and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) held a security drill at 150 stations between Virginia and Vermont. The security operation was part of the ongoing collaborative effort to expand counterterrorism and incident response methods up and down the Northeast Corridor railway system.
“It is critical that we continue to expand and exercise our collective ability to respond to a terrorist threat or incident,” said John Sammon, TSA assistant administrator, Transportation Sector Network Management (TSNM).
Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor said the parties agreed to the cross-Atlantic exchange after attending international counterterrorism rail safety conferences last year.
“During those interactions, it was determined that each organization had unique and different police practices and could learn a great deal from one another,” O’Connor said. “Without question, seeing first hand how particular security-related operations are carried out significantly enhances counterterrorism and major incident response capabilities and saves lives.”
“This trip represents a major opportunity for our two organizations to work and learn from each other,” British Transport Police Superintendent Phil Trendall said. “We share a determination to protect the traveling public from the threat of terrorism and this gives us a chance to share best practices. The message is clear: we are strengthened by our partnership and we look forward to working together in the months and years ahead.”
For more information, read: First Major U.S. & U.K. Exchange of Railroad Security and Counterterrorism Practices
