Rush to Judgment
Posted by Fred Jandt
Mass Transit magazine editor
If you jump on the news this morning and type ‘transit security’ one of the first stories you are likely to come up with is this one (or ones like it) about the shooter who attacked two Pentagon police officers yesterday within steps of a Washington Metro station. And you may be like me and go, oh no, not on the Metro again!
Thankfully, the only person who died in the shootout last night was the perpetrator — a man from California dressed in a business suit who calmly walked up to the two officers and, instead of pulling out a security pass, pulled a pair of guns and began shooting. The two officers involved both have been released from the hospital, one shot in the leg and the other in the shoulder — both superficial wounds.
The gunmen could just have easily started shooting on Metro, but this time the transit authority was spared from another such attack. Of course, that isn’t going to stop a large number of people to question Metro’s (and transit’s) security … again.
I was in Cleveland this week visiting the RTA. I had an early morning flight yesterday and factoring in the prerequisite time I was supposed to arrive at the airport before my flight, the time it would take to get to the airport and the time it would take to get to the train station to get me there, it was a very early morning.
So it was no surprise to me as I walked down Euclid Ave. to Tower City station that I was the only person on the street. A middle-age editor lugging a suitcase down an empty (though well-lit) street in the wee hours of the morning says nothing if not “potential target†for the ne’er-do-wells out there. You can then imagine my happiness as an RTA transit police car rolled past me toward my destination.
I had done what most other people would have in my position — rushed to judgment. It was early. It was dark. I was alone and carrying a heavy suitcase. Every dark alleyway likely teemed with bad guys waiting to jump out and accost me.
The same could be said for those reading this story about Washington Metro this morning. The system isn’t teeming with criminals or psychos or whatever you want to call them perpetrating all sorts of crimes.
It’s teeming with transit and local police looking out for passengers’ safety.
It’s good to see that this time my fears and my rush to judgment were unfounded.
Thanks for reading the MT Position, updated every Friday. For those interested in instant updates, you can now get your latest Mass Transit fix via Twitter.
Fred
fred.jandt@cygnusb2b.com
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March 5th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Agree that security is comforting anywhere you go these days. Alas, it can also be scary alone or in groups even in one’s own neighborhood if it’s extra early or extra late. In those cases, having a transit bus or train roll by would be a comforting “presence” even with no security evident.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
You are right, Fred. There simply is no humanly possible safeguard in every situation…and as we continue to head economically as we are, there will be in uptick in the criminal, looneys, freak-out/snaps just as there will then be an uptick in security. Again, it’ll never be 100%.
But, I agree. Don’t know if it made the news beat yet, but last night in Phoenix, an extremely intoxicated man stood up on the Metro LRT platform to then only stumble and fall ONTO the track. And yes, a train was approaching. Immediately, two transit police assistants (i think they are volunteers) rush to the man waving at the train operator who pulled the emergency brake just in time. The man was saved! due to the ‘assistants’ doing their patrol. I good story indeed. Joyous weekend all!
March 8th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
While it is true that there is no way to make it completely safe in every situation, it remains that Transit is a very safe method of getting around anywhere. Using some common sense while travelling is really all that needs to be considered to make yourself safe, reduce the risks and become less of a target. Sometimes, things can be unpleasant while riding, but being unpleasant or less desirable, doesn’t mean it is unsafe. If we want a perfect world, we could all ride in an armored car from door to door, really not feasible is it?