New York City Transit Police
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| New York City Transit Police Department | |
 New York City Transit Police Patch Pre 1995 |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 17, 1933 |
| Dissolved | April 2, 1995 |
| Jurisdiction | New York City |
| Employees | Absorbed into the New York City Police Department[1] |
| Parent agency | New York City Transit Authority |
The New York City Transit Police Department, officially established in 1953, was a transit police department responsible for the protection of New York City Subway and bus lines. In 1936, Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia authorized the hiring of Special Patrolmen for the New York City Subway system, these patrolmen eventually became the Transit Police. [2] In 1949 the department was officially divorced from the New York City Police Department, but was eventually fully re-integrated in 1995 as the Transit Bureau of the New York City Police Department by New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. In 1997, the Transit Bureau became the Transit Division within the newly formed Transportation Bureau. In July of 1999, the Transit Division once again became the Transit Bureau. Headquarters for the NYPD Transit Bureau are located at 130 Livingston Street in Brooklyn Heights. [1]
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[edit] Jobs of the transit police
One main task of the Transit Police was its defense of the subway system from defacement. Graffiti was very prominent throughout the subway system by the mid-1980s and the city government took a hard line in response, though some saw it instead as a "social trend" and a sign of diversity. The Transit Police, and specifically a new unit called the Vandal Squad began to fine and arrest those painting graffiti. They also made a policy to remove any work of graffiti within 24 hours of its creation. By the end of the 1980s, the Transit Police had effectively solved the problem of graffiti in the subway system.[3]
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the NYPD Transit Bureau responsibilities broadened and became more obvious. The New York City Transit System, primarily the subway system, was vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Afterwards the NYPD Transit Bureau implemented the "Random Bag Checks". Police Officers usually will set up a table in a station by a token booth. Then one of every five people will be chosen to show the contents of their bag or package. The program came under fire because some believed "Random Bag Checks" violated the people of their rights. Regardless, the "Random Bag Checks" are implemented at stations all across the subway system.
Until the 1995 Merge, the Transit Police had it's own K-9 Unit, but after merging with the NYPD the Transit Police K-9 Unit and the NYPD Precinct based K-9s were absorbed into a new, centralized sub-unit of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit, becoming ESU K-9. In November 2006, the NYPD Transit Bureau deployed it's own K-9 Unit devoted exclusively to the subways of New York City. Four German shepherds began work, with five more expected by mid-December. The unit is expected to grow to 27, bringing the total number of NYPD K-9s to 61, making it the largest K-9 unit in the country.[3]
[edit] Transit Police Auxiliary Police Officers
- Further information: New York City Police Department Auxiliary Police
Two weeks after the 2005 London bombings, a new directive stated that New York City would institute a citywide transit Auxiliary program with the intent of reducing crime and fighting terrorism in the city's transit system. Transit Auxiliary officers work out of Transit precincts known as Districts and carry Transit issued portable radios. Transit Auxiliary Police periodically perform inspections of the subway stations and platforms which they are assigned to, taking note of any suspicious occurrences, and set up a fixed post at the subway turnstiles, or token booths. Due to the common medical emergency calls in Transit, if medically qualified, Transit Auxiliary Police Officers can respond to medical emergencies if they are close to that subway station.[4]
Auxiliary Police Officers must pass a 16-week Auxiliary Police Basic training course which is classified as a Part Time Peace Officer training required by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council. This training includes penal law, radio use, unarmed self defense, first aid, use of a police baton and arrest procedures. A written and physical exam is given at the end of training. Upon the completion of the basic training course, probationary Auxiliary Police officers are issued their shield and police identification card along with their nightstick and initial uniform. They are classified as Part-Time Peace Officers by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services-Municipal Police Training Council and are registered as peace officers in the NYS DCJS registry of peace officers.
Since the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) lists NYPD Auxiliary Police Officers in the State Registry of Peace Officers all Auxiliary Police Officers are required to pass an annual refresher course in the use of force with the nightstick, arrest procedures, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in order maintain part time peace office certification.[4]
[edit] Fallen Officers
During the existence of the New York City Transit Police Department, 13 officers died in the line of duty. [5]
| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Patrolman John Tuohy |
|
Heart attack |
| Patrolman Lloyd Innes |
|
Gunfire |
| Patrolman Michael Melchiona |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer John Skagen |
|
Gunfire (Accidental) |
| Police Officer Sidney L. Thompson |
|
Gunfire |
| Detective George Caccavale |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Carlos King |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Seraphin Calabrese |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Irving W. Smith |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Joseph Keegan |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Joseph Hamperian |
|
Struck by vehicle |
| Police Officer Irma Lozada |
|
Gunfire |
| Police Officer Robert Venable |
|
Gunfire |
[edit] Transit police in movies
The transit police were made famous in several films including The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and Money Train.
[edit] See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- Amtrak Police Department
- BART Police
- South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service
- New Jersey Transit Police Department
- New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department
- Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police Department
- Transit police
- Transportation in New York City
- TTC Special Constable Services
- YRT/VIVA Special Constable Services
[edit] References
- ^ a b New York City Government, 2002, Accessed August 29, 2007.
- ^ New York City Police Museum site Accessed January 26, 2008
- ^ a b New York City Police Department, 2002, Accessed August 29, 2007.
- ^ a b New York City Auxiliary Police PBA,A.P.S. DIRECTIVE # 7; 2005, Accessed August 29, 2007.
- ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page Accessed January 26, 2008
[edit] External links
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