Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 5, 2003

Metro Transit Police host employee police academy

Metro Transit Police offered a week-long Metro Police Academy to employees of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) recently, to raise their awareness of the scope of activities and specialties that are involved in the daily behind-the-scenes policing of the nation’s bus and rail transit system. The week-long academy was offered for an hour a day for one week during lunch hour. Topics included explosive ordinance detection; use of K-9 dogs; how to spot pickpockets; how to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft; use of firearms; firearms skills; police officer safety and self defense; police drill instruction; and life as a Metro Transit Police recruit. "We think that opening up our department to others within the Authority helps demystify policing to those whose knowledge is often built from what they see on television and in the movies," said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. "Our officers have a very specialized skill-set, and they’re eager to share their knowledge with others. WMATA has about 10,000 employees, and they supplement our police force by helping out by watching out," she said. "Individuals who participated in the Police Academy spent only a few hours with us, and in doing so they gained an appreciation for a few of the challenges that we face on a daily basis while we’re out there protecting our customers and employees," Chief Hanson said. WMATA employees, several of whom brought their lunches to the hour-long mid-day sessions, learned basic striking and blocking techniques that officers use to fend off attackers. Participants learned the striking and blocking techniques, and practiced on police recruits who held striking pads. Standard-issue officer firearms, including handguns, MP-5 automatic weapons used by Metro’s Special Response Police Units, and non-lethal pellet-type firearms were featured as Police Academy participants had the opportunity to see the (unloaded) weapons up close. Night-vision goggles and proper use of bullet-retardant vests were also featured. Participants also had the opportunity to test their firearms skills by utilizing a "beam hit" laptop-controlled electronic handgun and target. Day three unlocked the secrets of Metro’s Explosive Ordinance Detection teams with canine officers and their dogs showcasing the skills of the animals in alerting or indicating to hidden explosives. A demonstration of an explosive disarming computer-controlled robot featured an officer manipulating the robot to remove a potential explosive device from a trash bin so that it could be disarmed. Officers also displayed their explosive protection gear and examples of how explosives can be hidden in clever ways by individuals wishing to do harm. Day four brought out Metro’s pickpocket detection team of officers to demonstrate how pickpockets work and how their crime often results in the later discovery of a pattern of identity theft. The Police Academy wrapped up with the Metro Transit Police drill instructors barking orders to participants to give them a taste of what it’s like to be a new recruit. Participants received certificates of participation upon completion of the five-hour academy course.

News release issued on May 5, 2003.