Bus Marshals: Don't Mess with METRO
Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:24 AM
One of our blog readers commented yesterday that he gets around on a cane - and often people do not vacate the front seats as federal law requires.
The blog reader, Bill, states: "METRO needs better security on their buses and at their bus stops. The drivers as well as the passengers would feel a great deal better. I've seen fights break out on METRO buses. Poor etiquette for sure."
I have good news for Bill.
Since Aug. 8, we have had a bus marshals program in place to monitor crime and keep our buses safer. Like air marshals in the sky, our bus marshals ride the buses in plainclothes. METRO's police officers volunteer for the program, signing up to work four-hour shifts as overtime, said Lt. Herman McCLure, who oversees this program under Homeland Security at our METRO police department.
"It's been very successful," said McClure. "We've gotten felony warrants for family violence. We've busted people on the bus for dope. Yesterday, we had some officers make a crack bust on the bus."
The top most problematic buses are getting staffed by bus marshals on three shifts: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.; 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The bus routes are the 52, 77, 78, 82, 2, 5, 9. 45, 56, and 163.
On weekends, the 82 Westheimer and 2 Bellaire are staffed by marshals from 3 p.m. to 8 pm. and 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Bus marshals may also be pulled from a problem-prone line and assigned to other buses when needed.
"You won't recognize when a fellow passenger is actually a bus marshal. He looks like John Q. Citizen," explained McClure. The exception: When school started a few weeks ago, the marshals were in uniform so the students would know and act more respectful when corrected, said McClure.
So far, from Aug. 8 to Sept. 15, here's what our marshals did:
Made three felony arrests, including a robbery parole violator and family violence violator; made 27 misdemeanor arrests; wrote 50 fineable ordinances (can range from eating on the bus to playing a radio); issued 74 warning citations (could range from someone drinking water on the bus to an unruly passenger); and caught two fare violators.
For safety, there are always at least two bus marshals on the bus, and sometimes three. They work closely with our MPD officers assigned to our bus and rail but who drive around in patrol cars. When a marshal needs back-up or needs to escort a passenger off the bus to make an arrest, a patrol car officer transports the suspect to the appropriate booking facility for the city of Houston or Harris County.
"Some of the bus operators out there are very appreciative. The more people see us out there, the more people will know we're out there. Hopefully, it will have a positive effect," said McClure.