NCJ Number
12152
Date Published
1973
Length
171 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY OF POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES IN BOSTON, TORONTO AND CLEVELAND, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING WASHINGTON METRO SERVICES.
Abstract
DATA COLLECTION BY THE D.C. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY INVOLVED TOURS OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND INTERVIEWS WITH TRANSIT, POLICE AND FIRE OFFICIALS. INFORMATION WAS GATHERED ON A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS, ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS, CONSEQUENCES OF PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING OR LACK OF IT, AND THE GENERAL IMPACT OF RAPID RAIL TRANSIT ON PUBLIC SAFETY. THE LONGSTANDING BOSTON TRANSIT SYSTEM WAS EVALUATED AS LACKING FIRM PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE PROCEDURES, FORMALLY AGREED-UPON RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLANNING APPROACHES TO EXISTING TRANSIT PROBLEMS. THE TORONTO SYSTEM, WHILE EPITOMIZING A THOROUGH, COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH AND SERVING AS A GOOD SOURCE OF PROCEDURES, TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT, WAS NOTED TO EXIST WITHIN A DIFFERING METROPOLITAN SITUATION. THE PROBLEM OF DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY FEARS WAS THE SINGLE MOST NOTED CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CLEVELAND SYSTEM. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE WASHINGTON METRO INCLUDED PROVIDING FOR SPECIFIC STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS AND WRITTEN SPECIFICATION OF LOCAL AGENCY AND TRANSIT AUTHORITY RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DEVELOPING DIRECT COMMUNICATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES. THE STUDY RECOMMENDED THAT PUBLIC ATTITUDES AND CHANGES IN AREA CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY BE MONITORED CONTINUOUSLY. IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT IMMEDIATE RESPONSES TO CRIME, FIRES AND EMERGENCIES BE EMPLOYED TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN LOCAL AGENCIES, OFFICIALS, AND THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN EMERGENCY PLANNING, TRAINING, INVESTIGATING EQUIPMENT AND COMMUNICATING RELEVANT INFORMATION WERE ADVISED. THE REPORT RECOMMENDED ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES FOR REGULAR INSPECTION. EXTENSIVE APPENDIXES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES OF STUDIES, PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE THREE TRANSIT SYSTEMS REVIEWED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)