I think I may have a partial answer. Obviously a minor traffic accident brings out the force in full but we’ve already covered that. I found out the answer at least for the Metro Transit Police this morning. At 8:30 am if you were at the Georgia Ave.-Petworth metro station then you know the answer too. Well, when I went to the metro this morning still smarting from my bad parking spot I noticed a metro cop and his dog. Ok, nothing unusual there but then I noticed another and another. Fortunately I was not armed so I had nothing to fear. But I did find it unusual. So, thinking this might be of interest to you all I inquired with the cop with the coolest hat if they were doing an exercise or something. His reply was more of grunt but another officer with him handed me a little card like the ones a mute person would give you if they wanted you to buy a pen or something. At any rate the card says “Targeted Train Inspection…to inspect stations and train cars, and to engage customers in conversation about our efforts to provide a safe Metrorail system.”
Ok. Well, I think the fact that I had to stare and oggle at the officers and finally approach one with a fancy hat to ask what the hell was going on leads me to believe that they haven’t yet accomplished the engaging customers part. Secondly, there didn’t seem to be to much inspecting going on. Thirdly, when I actually got on the train the cops simply stuck their heads in for a second and turned around. The cops, of which I counted 15 and three dogs seemed to be grouped in threes having their own little conversations certainly not “engaging customers.” Maybe they should bring a cop on a horse next time if they really want to make us feel safe.
Oh well, I guess I shouldn’t complain. Cops work extremely long hours under less than optimal conditions and there are some very good ones out there. For the good ones I am grateful.
On a side note regarding MPD’s new initiatives under Chief designate Lanier – I haven’t seen any foot patrols yet. Have you?
