Two Awards Recognize METRO's Leadership & Preparedness
Thursday, February 14, 2008 5:05 PM
METRO received top honors Monday when the Transportation Security Administration recognized both our transit security system and our chief of police, Tom Lambert, for his excellent work.
The first award - called "Carrier of Distinction" - placed METRO in the top 5 percent of all transit systems nationwide for emergency preparedeness. As "Carrier of Distinction," our system was lauded for "superior performance in security program development, planning and execution."
"That's pretty significant," said Lambert.
Pictured above is Congresswoman Sheila Lee Jackson, Tom Lambert, and Kip Hawley, TSA's top administrator.
The second award recognized Lambert's leadership in chairing the 18-month-old "Police and Security Peer Advisory Group." Members of that group include: New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia, Amtrak, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
That's a pretty impressive list of huge transit agencies. How did Houston's METRO get to be the leader?
About 18 months ago, Lambert told Hawley that it was vital to involve the police chiefs of the nation's major transit systems in any discussions on security.
"We have to be partners at the table," Lambert recalled, pointing out that certain rules on paper didn't make sense in reality. For example, there was once a guideline suggesting all rail platforms be outfitted with bomb-resistant trash cans. The only problem was that that technology doesn't exist.
So the TSA created the advisory group that meets monthly via teleconferencing. The group produced a one-year business plan which Hawley has moved forward, along with streamlining the way agencies receive security grants.
"He's lived up to his end of the bargain - listening and being a man of his word. He said he's going to do certain things, and he did it," said Lambert of Hawley.
Lambert's award acknowledges those same qualities.
"We don't care who gets recognized. What we care about is getting the end results. When you're willing to communicate, when you're willing to let people have a voice at the table, then we all get a shared buy-in to the end result," said Lambert. "When you don't always get a win/win, we're not afraid to challenge issues. When we say we're going to do things, we do it, and our word is respected as a bond."
It's not just government officials who are praising our chief. Consider the case of blog reader Diana Reyna, who expressed concern about the HOV lane I-45 North violators.
"It does, indeed, pay to voice your thoughts because as of last week, I noticed police stepping up and dealing with these single riders who abuse the HOV land on I-45 North," said Reyna in an e-mail to me on Monday.
"Mr. Tom Lambert is great for listening and taking immediate action in dealing with this issue. If I could write anyone to let them know what a great experience I've had with being heard and commend Mr. Lambert, I would," wrote Reyna.
Congratulations, Chief Lambert!