Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 9, 2006

Metro Transit Police to take course to identify terrorists

Metro Transit Police officers will take a highly specialized training course to spot behaviors of would-be terrorists planning or executing an attack, and learn how to take action to mitigate danger, including confronting a suicide bomber.

The Behavior Assessment Screening System (BASS) course integrates behavioral analysis and law enforcement training to help officers recognize potential terrorist activity.

Pending approval from Metro’s Board of Directors on March 16 to spend $60,000 of an U.S. Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant, 300 Metro Transit Police and regional law enforcement officers will take the course this spring.

The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) piloted the course last year and found it to be the most sophisticated behavioral screening system available.

The eight-hour training course focuses on behavior and will enhance an officer’s ability to observe and assess an individual’s behavior. Course participants learn to assign a number value to certain behaviors and the total number determines the type of response required.

“Someone asking a custodian, station manger or operator about ridership, peak riding times and/or train operations would score a high number. Or someone with maps and blueprints or taking pictures of infrastructure would raise suspicion,” said Metro Transit Police Captain Jeff Delinski.

The BASS course explains how to conduct brief, non-threatening interviews with a subject to determine if the individual is high risk or low risk, and covers appropriate risk mitigation action.

Protecting the Homeland Innovations, LLC, Millbury, MA, developed the BASS course after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. More than 2,000 police and security officials from more than 50 agencies, including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Transportation Security Administration, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Police, US Capitol Police and FBI, have taken the course.

News release issued on March 9, 2006.