Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 22, 2003

Metro increases security as alert level increases to orange

Police ask customers to be vigilant

Metro officials are increasing security at Metrorail stations, on trains, and in Metrobuses as a result of yesterday’s raising of the national alert level to Orange. " We are taking precautionary measures to assure our customers that we are doing everything that we can to make sure they can pass through our system without incident. Our customers are likely to see special response teams of officers carrying additional weaponry with a canine accompanying them," said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. " We also are asking our customers to be an extension of our eyes and ears, and let us know if they see anything unusual." Metro Transit Police have deployed the special response teams and explosive detection canine teams to conduct sweeps of Metrorail stations. " Rest assured, the presence of these special response teams and explosive detection canine teams does not indicate any specific, impending danger. These precautionary measures are intended to reassure our customers and add another level of security prevention," she said. Since Sunday afternoon when the threat alert level was increased to Orange Alert, Transit police officers have been wearing their bright flourescent visibility vests so that customers who notice anything unusual can quickly spot and alert a police officer. More officers will be on patrol starting today. Metro Transit Police also are staffing the Metropolitan Police Department’s Joint Operations Command Center, and will continue to receive regular updates from the FBI Terrorism Task Force and the region’s chiefs of police. " We are also taking some additional security measures that are not visible to our customers and are designed to be that way," she said. " We are entering a challenging time in our region. Vigilance is more important than ever. We continue to ask our customers to help us." Metro has an ongoing dialog with its customers, and officials ask that the customers continue with that partnership. Metro customers should be aware of suspicious people or unusual activity, unattended items, and smoke or odd smells. " If you see someone leave a package, politely bring it to their attention," explains Chief Hanson, who taped a special safety message that is now airing in the Metro system. " If you see someone acting suspiciously, find an unattended package or witness something unusual, stay away from it and tell the bus operator, train operator, police officer or station manager immediately." " Metrorail customers need to make sure they are aware of their surroundings so that if a situation arises, they are prepared for action," adds Fred Goodine, Assistant General Manager for System Safety and Risk Protection. There are several things that Metrorail passengers should be aware of in case of an emergency. Customers should know that there are emergency intercoms inside each rail car at either end of the car. They can be used to report suspicious people, unusual activity, or unattended items to the train operator. Customers should know that inside each rail car next to the center doors, there are emergency procedures posted. During non-emergency times, passengers should familiarize themselves with these procedures. If a train stops, passengers should listen for the operator’s instructions and follow them quickly and calmly. And customers should never block doors from closing because a train can only move if all doors are closed. " While waiting for a train to enter a station, customers should familiarize themselves with all of the entrances to the station in case they have to take a different exit," Mr. Goodine says. " They should locate the emergency intercoms on specially marked pylons and use them to report suspicious people, unusual activity, or unattended items to the station manager." Metrobus riders should follow the bus operator’s instructions. Emergency exit procedures are listed on windows, ceiling escape hatches, and on doors.

News release issued on December 22, 2003.