Maryland Transportation Authority Police | |
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Abbreviation | MDTA Police |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1994 (Origin in 1957) |
Employees | approx. 600 (as of 2010) |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Maryland, USA |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Dundalk, Maryland |
Officers | approx. 500 (as of 2019) |
Civilians | approx. 100 (as of 2019) |
Agency executive |
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Facilities | |
Detachments | 12 |
Website | |
mdta.maryland.gov/police |
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police is the eighth-largest law enforcement agency in the U.S. state of Maryland and is charged with providing law enforcement services on Maryland Transportation Authority highways and facilities throughout the state, in addition to contractual services that are provided at Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and the Port of Baltimore.
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Life in the Academy
Transcription
Stop looking around, stop looking around! Let's go, Let's go. You want to be a trooper, right? Sir, yes sir. This is the State Police, we hold ourselves to a high standard. It's not to punish anybody, it's our tradition. Flag-raising morning colors morning inspection if they're their rooms aren't properly kept their gigged, they get demerits for it. When you initially start it is odd but after a while you notice that the discipline it takes a from making your bed, getting up in the morning carries over. over into everyday and when you're on your own on road it carries over. I'm coming from the military and I like values that they propose after reading up on the Maryland State Police. Initially, my father was a state trooper so thats why I choose the state police over any other department here. Since been here theres just a level of discipline is much higher than other departments I've seen. We wake up at five o'clock we're in formation by 10 after five. Then we come to do our physical. training 5:30 or so and then we head back to the dorms to change into our uniform of the day, head over to breakfast. After breakfast we come back for inspections. They inspect our rooms make sure everything is clean and tidy. but not only is it inspecting our rooms but inspecting our knowledge and our uniforms as well. should be routed bacterium And then we have our morning colors where we our form up outside and raise the flags and salute the flags. They know what the standard and they're held to that standard. After 26 weeks here then they're asked to go to a different part of the state probably somewhere they've never been before. They're asked to work shift work not just Monday through Friday they're often asked to work weekends tracks asked the work Friday night weekends, Saturday night weekends. When things are busy they need to understand that that lifestyle that they've chosen isn't a normal one. I love the training, it's the best training I've had so far especially when it comes to physical training and it is for a purpose and I like the end of when it would be. For halfway through the Academy now we started off doing defensive tactics here just ground fighting and now we're moving to standing fighting We've already completed our four week rotation which consisted practicing traffic stops Two weeks on the gun range and then also we go EVOC, which is our emergency vehicle operating. This class is pushing, we have people from all different backgrounds some come in and with no fighting experience, no ground fighting, and no PT experience really and 14 weeks/ 15 weeks in they're they're looking pretty good I'm happy with it. Currently we are at week 14 of training and we're conducting striking training breaking falls and is basically for protection other or civilians out there and other troopers. Sargent House is running them brake falls right now how to properly fall they need to be able to dissipate, hitting pavement, hitting asphalt, hitting a curb. You'll probably see them slapping the mat out here today that's that's dispersing an dispersing an impact they keep chin tucked so they're not slamming they're head on the mat. When you go on doing any specific task safety is stressed. Just in preparation for being a trooper. This is our graduation ceremony so all of our hard work for the past six months coming together and coming to a close realizing that a lot of us are being sent throughout the entire state it might be a long time before we see each other again so it's a lot of mixed emotions. The last six months have been a grueling but rewarding at this time, so its it's overwhelming. At the academy it's been amazing I've been granted 81 brothers and sisters and I'm very proud of each and every one of them they elected me to be class president and I'm honored and they told me from the day they elected me to now that I've done a fantastic job and it makes me very proud that I've done them proud. Now the real part of police work begins now if we make a mistake out on the road bad things can happen We've come to this point anything that we've done and to get this year and it's finally over. Basically it's a new beginning so overwhelming joy. We are top quality and it's because we put the time in here. Tt was a long six months we came in as individuals but we have each other now and that is how we finished out the last six months.
History
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police trace their beginnings to the opening of the new Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and the Harbor Tunnel Thruway connecting highways (now part of Interstate 895) which crosses under the Patapsco River of Baltimore's Harbor in 1957, when the municipal "Harbor Tunnel Thruway Special Police Force" was established. In 1971, this force developed a State-authorized Police Academy, Commercial Vehicle Safety Division, police-apprenticeship program, and an Honor/Color Guard. An additional under-harbor tunnel was added in the mid-1980s with the construction of the parallel Fort McHenry tunnel for Interstate 95. In 1998, by act of the Maryland General Assembly the previous Maryland Port Administration Police was abolished and the members were merged into the larger Maryland Transportation Authority Police under the new Maryland Department of Transportation. The new police force assumed law enforcement responsibilities for the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore facilities including the Canton, Seagirt, Dundalk, Clinton Street, Fairfield and Locust Point Marine Terminals, as well as the downtown Baltimore World Trade Center on East Pratt Street at the "Inner Harbor". Today the MDTA Police force has grown to encompass law enforcement responsibilities at all of Maryland's transportation facilities projects, also including the Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore.
Chiefs of Police
- Chief Kevin Anderson, 2020–Present
- Chief Jerry Jones, 2015–2020
- Chief Michael Kundrat, 2013–2015
- Chief Marcus L. Brown, 2007–2011
- Chief Gary McLhinney, 2003–2007
- Chief Larry Harmel, 1997–2003
- Chief Edward Hechmer, 1982–1997
- Acting Commander Lionel Foote, 1981–1982
- Major Walter Wallace, 1977–1981
- Captain John J. Zimmerer 1971–1977
- Captain John J. Zimmerer 1957–1971
Overview
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The Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the first state law enforcement agency to be nationally accredited in the state of Maryland, is the second-largest state law enforcement agency and the eighth-largest law enforcement agency in Maryland, with approx. 500 sworn officers and 100 civilian law enforcement professionals.
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police provide law enforcement services to some of the most critical transportation infrastructures in the state of Maryland. These areas include all Maryland Transportation Authority highways, such as Interstate 95 within the city of Baltimore north to the Delaware state line, Interstate 895, portions of Interstate 695, U.S. Routes 40, 50, 301, and the Intercounty Connector (MD 200).
In addition to these responsibilities the Maryland Transportation Authority Police also handle the law enforcement services at the Baltimore Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Port of Baltimore. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police also provide law enforcement services and inspections related to commercial vehicle truck safety on Interstate 95 (JFK Highway), Interstate 895, Interstate 695, US-50, US-40 and US-301.
The Maryland State Police, under contract with the Maryland Transportation Authority, provides law enforcement services along the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (IS 95 from northern Baltimore County to the Delaware state line).
Organizational structure
Special Operations Division
Patrol Division
Support Services Division
Logistics Division
Rank structure
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police is a paramilitary organization with a rank structure similar to the United States military. The ranks of corporal through lieutenant are based on promotional testing. Captains and above are appointed by the chief of police.
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police rank structure is as listed:
Training Academy
Members of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police are professional law-enforcement officers who must meet established standards and successfully complete a rigorous training program as required by the Maryland Police Training Commission. Officer candidates receive this training at the Maryland Transportation Authority's Police Training Academy, a fully accredited police-training facility located near the "Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge" Baltimore Beltway, Interstate 695. Officer candidates are expected to maintain physical and mental discipline throughout the academy.
The standard training course covers subjects such as criminal and motor-vehicle law, accident investigation, first aid, abnormal psychology, traffic control, criminal investigation, defensive tactics, weapons qualifications and court procedures. In addition, college credits are available at the Community College of Baltimore County's Dundalk campus.
Academy students are required to maintain a high academic standing during their seven-month classroom training. Upon graduation, officers will be assigned to field training officers for an additional eight weeks of training. Thereafter, officers are eligible for assignment to any of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police detachments located throughout Maryland.
Detachments
Specialized Units
Maryland Transportation Authority Police Specialized Units are:
- Homeland Enforcement and Traffic Team (HEAT)
- Motor Unit
- K-9 Unit
- Marine Unit
- Commercial Vehicle Safety Unit (CVSU)
- Commercial Enforcement and Response Team (CERT) formerly the Aggressive Driving Unit (ADU)
- Detective Unit
- Internal Affairs Unit (IAU)
- Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT)
- Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
- Special Response Team (SRT)
- Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
- Bicycle Patrol
- Honor Guard
- Honor Guard Rifle Team
- Information and Technology Law Enforcement Unit (ITLE)
- Recruitment and Selection Unit
- Public Affairs Unit
- Training Unit
Equipment
Weapons
Maryland Transportation Authority Police Officers are currently issued a Glock 45 9mm, with a red dot sight. ("Safe Action") pistol. Some officers are also issued an 870 Remington 12-gauge shotgun, but all officers are certified to operate both weapons. Additionally officers are issued an ASP collapsible baton, OC Spray, Taser 7, handcuffs, flashlights and a radio.
Patrol Vehicles
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police currently use the police package Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Police Interceptor (sedan and utility models), Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Impala, and Chevrolet Caprice as their primary patrol vehicles. Chevrolet Express vans are used for prisoner transport.
Maryland Transportation Authority Police Awards
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police presents a number of awards to its members for meritorious service.[1] The awards that the Maryland Transportation Authority Police awards to its officers are as follows:
- Award of Excellence
- Life Saving Award
- Distinguished Service Award
- Chief's Commendation
- Unit Commendation
- Motor Carrier Inspector of the Year
- Law Enforcement Supervisor of the Year
- Detachment Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
- Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Fallen officers
Seven officers have died while on duty.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "MdTA Police Awards" Scribd website, MDTA Police annual awards ceremony on March 18, 2009, retrieved 2009-11-30
- ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page
External links
- The Maryland Transportation Authority Police Website
- The Maryland Transportation Authority Website
- Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #34, Maryland Transportation Authority Police
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