Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 19, 2003

MTPD’s Rail Anti-crime Target Shift marks first year anniversary

Youth showing responsible riding habits on Metro receive free movie coupons from RATS officers

Metro Transit Police officers who make up the Rail Anti-Crime Target Shift (RATS) are marking their first anniversary this month. The squad’s accomplishments in the past year include the following statistics for the period January 1, 2003, to date:· Over 1,300 citations issued for violating the no-littering, no-smoking, no-eating, and no-drinking laws; of that number, at least 900 citations were written warnings for these offenses and fare evasion, and for disorderly juveniles.· 65 arrests during the same time period for these violations and more serious offences based on outstanding warrants from other police departments.· 30 free movie coupons given to youth riding Metro and exhibiting responsible riding habits by not breaking any of these, or other, violations. "I am very pleased with the accomplishments the Rail Anti-Crime Target Shift. They are able to quickly respond to complaints from both our employees and customers, partner with principals, teachers, and students, and provide a high level of individualized customers service," stated Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. "Their efforts in the new year will continue to ensure that we maintain a safe and clean Metro system." The dilemma arose this past year where some students were using fake names and addresses or, even worse, using the names and personal information of close friends. "This prompted us to send a letter to school principals, asking them to hand out a new brochure, that MTPD created with students in mind, which outlines appropriate transit behavior," Chief Hanson explained. "We have also offered to have RATS officers attend PTA meetings and school assemblies to inform students, parents, and school officials about appropriate student behavior while riding transit, to hand out the brochure, and to alert the school family that officers may need to verify a student’s identity as a condition of issuing a warning notice," noted Sergeant Ronald A. Pavlik, who supervises the RATS detail. MTPD officers issue citations for most of these "quality of life" violations, which result in fines ranging from $10 (littering) to $50 (fare evasion). In addition, enforcement of these infractions oftentimes lead to the disclosure that the violators are wanted on other more serious outstanding charges, at which time they are arrested. "It is clear that our law-abiding customers appreciate our efforts. They have clearly joined us in a partnership to keep our system safe," Chief Hanson noted. "Customers serve as active partners, extending our eyes and ears in this post-September 11, 2001, world we live in. We thank them for joining us in this effort, and encourage them to report any suspicious behavior or anything out of the ordinary to us anytime by talking to our officers out and about in the system, or by calling us on 202-962-2121."

News release issued on December 19, 2003.