|
HVBF Monthly Meeting - Facilities,
Security, Transportation Roundtable Host: The Graduate Center at Loyola College Attendees: Buddy Alves, Maryland Transit Administration Lt. Col. John Gavrilis, Deputy Chief of Police, Maryland Transit Administration Police Force, explained to the Roundtable the mission and capabilities of the Maryland Transit Police and the plan to provide security on light rail since the loss of Baltimore County Officers at the stations from Lutherville to Hunt Valley effective July 1. Trains consist of from two to as many as six cars depending on the time of day. There will be a uniformed police officer and/or a uniformed fare inspector on each train. This will provide visible security and decrease the possibility of free riders who are usually the people most likely intent on committing crimes. At each stop, the uniformed officer or fare inspector will debark and inspect the station area for any suspicious activity. Any such activity will be reported to MTA Transit Police headquarters and the Baltimore County Police Department. In addition, ghost cars identified as MTA Transit Police vehicles, but unmanned, will be randomly parked at stations. Roving patrols will randomly move along the line. Cooperation between MTA Transit Police and the Baltimore County Police Department will assure maximum levels of security. MTA Transit Police are invited to attend this monthly roundtable to keep us updated on the effectiveness of this level of security. The roundtable is interested in the number of incidents and action taken to assure the business community of the effectiveness of the program. Ruth Silverstone brought us up to date on the suggested bus schedule changes. Shelton Stewart detailed the progress to date. Shelton tracked the new route of the #8 to Hunt Valley. A new #12 bus will address the issue at Stella Maris. We are assured of cooperation between MTA and businesses that cooperative solutions will be found to prevent workers from loosing their jobs because of a lack of transportation. This is a work in progress and final schedules will be released before the October implementation date. The next meeting of the Cockeysville Police Community Relations Council will be on Monday, July 25 at 7:00 pm at the MBNA building. The speaker will be Thomas McCain on Parole and Probation. You are invited. |