Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD)

The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) is the police agency serving the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. It was created by the WMATA Compact on June 4, 1976.

The Metro Transit Police Department is unique in American law enforcement. It is the only police agency that has local police authority in three different jurisdictions (Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia). The department has an authorized strength of 423 sworn officers, 106 security special police, and 24 civilian personnel. New officers complete twenty-three weeks of initial training at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy and then complete fifteen additional weeks of training at the Metro Transit Police Academy.

Transit Police officers patrol the Metrorail system and Metrobuses using a variety of techniques including uniformed and plainclothes patrol, bike patrol, and in marked and unmarked patrol cars. Transit Police Detectives provide investigative support. Transit Police officers have jurisdiction and arrest powers throughout the 1500 sqmi Metro service area for crimes that occur on Transit Authority facilities, or within 150 ft of a Metrobus stop. Metro - Metro Compact

Two Transit Police officers have been killed in the line of duty. Officer Harry Davis, Jr. was shot and killed in Landover, Maryland while investigating a stolen vehicle parked at a Metro facility near the Landover station on December 20, 1993. Officer Marlon Morales was shot in the District of Columbia by a fare evasion suspect at the U Street-Cardozo Metrorail Station on June 10, 2001. Morales succumbed to his wounds and died on June 13, 2001. The suspects in both murders were identified, captured, tried, convicted and are currently serving sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Transit Police is actively involved in protecting its passengers and infrastructure from terrorist threats. After the September 11, 2001 attacks and the London subway bombings, and periodically since, members of the Metro Transit Police Service Response Team conducted high visibility sweeps of the rail system while displaying submachine guns and supported by explosive detection K-9 teams. Additionally, the department has a dedicated explosive disposal team.

The Metro Transit Police is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Impact of policing in a transit environment
Metro strictly forbids riders from eating or drinking while on board a Metrorail train or while in a station. Officers are required to take police action when they observe any criminal activity, but arrests for these minor violations are rare.

While sometimes seen as excessive, Metro's zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crime, including eating, drinking, littering, and other forms of disorder, embodies the broken windows philosophy of crime reduction. Metro's attempts to reduce crime, combined with how the station environments were designed with crime prevention in mind, has contributed to the fact that Washington Metro is among the safest and cleanest subway systems in the United States.

This philosophy also extends to use of station restroom facilities. Metro's long-standing policy restricts use of restrooms to only employees in order to prevent undesirable activity such as graffiti, though station managers could make exceptions at their discretion, such as for customers with small children, the elderly or disabled, etc. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A11550-2003Jan4&notFound=true) In 2003, Metro added a self-cleaning portable restroom for public use at the Huntington (Washington Metro) station.

In 2003, a publicly posted policy change at each station indicated that, except at the three stations which do not have accessible restrooms (which will only be for use of Transit Authority personnel), passengers who request use of the restrooms will be permitted to do so, subject to the station manager being able to escort them to the restroom. The station manager does not have to wait for them to finish using the restroom, but is permitted to allow them to find their way out of the area where the restroom is located.

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was created by interstate compact of the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia with the consent of Congress. Maryland ratified the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact in 1965 (Chapter 869, Acts of 1965). The Authority was formed to plan, finance, develop, and operate a balanced regional transportation system for the national capital area. The Authority also maintains a regular police force to protect patrons, personnel, and property.

WMATA is the key provider of regional emergency transit service during a public emergency. WMATA will work closely with Emergency Support Function (ESF) #1 to ensure continuity regarding transportation information, logistics, and operations. WMATA will work closely with DDOT for obtaining and funding additional buses or other transportation related equipment during a public emergency. WMATA will also maintain security at its facilities. During a public emergency, WMATA will have a liaison at the EMA EOC. (reference: http://ddot.washingtondc.gov/ddot/frames.asp?doc=/ddot/lib/ddot/information/emergency/6_Roles-Responsibilities.pdf)

Metro. The five-line metrorail system, known as Metro (or the Washington Metro), opened in 1976 with a single line less than five miles long. In December 1993, a new four-station segment opened to Greenbelt, Maryland. The Blue Line was extended to Franconia-Springfield, Virginia, in June 1997, and the Red Line to Glenmont, Maryland, in July 1998, making Metro a 103-mile rail system of five lines (83 stations), linking Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. In December 2004, the system increased to 106.3 miles with 86 stations.

Metrobus. Congress, the General Assemblies of Maryland and Virginia, and the City Council of the District of Columbia have authorized the Authority to acquire and operate all mass transit bus facilities in the Washington, DC, region. In 1973, Metro acquired four area bus systems. Metrobus now runs 335 routes on 176 lines.

MetroAccess. MetroAccess provides transportation services seven days a week within its service area to persons with disabilities who are certified eligible.

The Authority is governed by a six-member Board of Directors (and six alternate directors). Each Compact signatory appoints two members. Board members and alternates serve terms coterminous with their service as members of their appointing bodies (Code Transportation Article, secs. 10-202 through 10-204).

Contact Information
Metro Transit, Police Department 600 5th Street, NW Washington DC 20001 Phone: (202) 962-2121