Metropolitan Police Department Washington D.C.

Subject:

 

Metro Transit Police

Series    Number  Change

310       06

Effective Date

December 15, 1995

Revision Date

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this order is to define the jurisdic­tional and operational responsibilities of the Metropoli­tan Police Department with respect to the Metro Transit Police. This order consists of the following part:

 

PART I

 

A.   Definitions.

 

1.   "WMATA" means Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and refers to the public transportation agency commonly known as "Metro."

 

2.   "MTP" means Metro Transit Police and refers to the police force which has been established by P.L. 94— 306, to provide protection for WMATA patrons, personnel, and transit facilities.

 

3.   "MPD" means Metropolitan Police Department.

 

B.   Jurisdiction.

The MTP and the MPD will have joint responsi­bility for providing police service on WMATA properties. however, the P’TP will have primary responsibility aboard WMATA Rapid Rail Cars and along all rail lines. The MPD will nave primary responsibility inside and outside of all stations, to include service roadways and parking areas. The MPLD will not be precluded from taking police action aboard a Rapid Rail Car, or along any rail line, should circumstances warrant such action.

 

C.   Field Reporting and Records.

 

1.   Field Reports:

 

a.   The MTP and MPD will be responsible for reporting incidents occurring in their respective “Primary areas of jurisdiction," ac defined in part IB, However, nothing shall preclude members of either agency from taking reports in the primary area of jurisdiction of the other should conditions warrant such action.

 

b.   The MTP will utilize an MPD central complaint number on all reports prepared by that agency.

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 310.06

 

December 15, 1995

2 of 5

 

 

 

c.   The MTP will be responsible for making such notifications as are required by MPD general orders in preparing field reports.

 

2.   Report Processing:

 

a.   Copies of all field reports prepared by MTP will be delivered at the expiration of each tour of duty to the MPD district in which the offense or incident being reported occurred. These reports will then be processed along with MPD reports.

 

b.   The MPD will provide MTP with copies of reports prepared by members of the MPD on incidents occurring on WMATA property.

 

3.   Records Access:

 

Members of the MTP will have access to all MPD records which are necessary for that agency to fulfill its responsibilities. likewise, and when required, the records maintained by the MTP will be available to members of the MPD.

 

     4.   Reporting Forms:

The MTP will adopt MPD reporting forms for Its use in reporting incidents and arrests occurring In the District of Columbia.

 

D.   Arrests.

 

1.   Arrest Authority:

 

a.   As sworn members of an authorized police force, MTP officers have the same powers of arrest, with respect to transit—related offenses, as officers of the MPD. MTP arrest authority is limited to violations committed against WMATA transit facilities. This limitation, however, does not preclude MTP officers from making fresh pursuit arrests in the District of Columbia for violations committed against WMATA transit facilities.

 

b.   Where the Initial apprehension is made by an officer of the MTP, he will be considered the arresting officer for the purpose of prosecution.

 

2.   Arrest Procedures:

 

a.   All booking services will be provided by the MPD.

 

1)   MTP arrest. will be booked in black ink at an appropriate MPD station house.

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 310.06

 

December 15, 1995

3 of 5

 

 

 

2)   The NT? officer who made the apprehension will be listed as the arresting officer, and he will prepare all required reports.

 

3)   The case will be telephonically transferred to- the MTP station clerk by the booking officer, who shall make the appropriate notation of the transfer In the applicable column of the arrest book.

 

b.   The MPD will provide fingerprinting and photographing services for the MTP as set forth in General Order No. 502.1.

 

c.   The MPD will provide detention and confinement facilities for all MTP prisoners.

 

d.   MPD station personnel shall accept and process collateral according to department procedures for violations, committed in the District of Columbia, of the Rules and Regulations of the WHATA.

 

e.   It shall be the responsibility of the MPD station clerk, as set forth in General Order No. 502.6, to arrange for the release of persons arrested by officer. of the MTP, if the arrested person qualifies for release under the provisions of the Citation Release Program.

 

1.   Property Custody:

 

a.   The MPD will retain and process all prisoner’s property resulting from arrests by MTP members.

 

b.   Items of property taken into custody and classified as suspected proceeds of crime will be handled by the MPD.

 

2.   Evidence and Identification.

 

a.   The MPD will provide services to the MTP for crime scene searches, evidence collection and identification, ballistics testing and examination, chemical testing and narcotic testing.

 

b.   With the exception of firearms, narcotics, and evidence related to those cases which fall within the investigative purview of the MPD, MTP will retain evidence for presentation in Court.

 

c.   Firearms and narcotics evidence will be processed in accordance with current MPD procedures for handling these items.

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 310.06

 

December 15, 1995

4 of 5

 

 

 

d.   As necessary, members of the MPD will provide expert or supportive court testimony In MTP court cases.

 

3.   Found Property.

Property classified as "found property," recovered on a Rapid Rail Car or Inside a station, will be turned over to the MTP In accordance with the procedures contained in General Order No. 601.1 for processing property found on Public Service vehicles.

 

F.   Transporting Services.

The MPD will, upon request provide all prisoner transportation services for the MTP for the purpose of booking and processing through the courts.

 

G.   Appearing In Court.

The MTP will establish their own procedures for checking in and out of court hut they will use the facilities of the Court Liaison branch, It will he the responsibility of P4TP officers to obtain from the Identification and Records Division such records as are necessary to prosecute cases In court.

 

H.   Investigations.

 

1.   Follow—ups:

 

a.   All felony offenses, which occur on WMATA properties and require the presence or expertise of a Criminal Investigations Division investigator, i.e., a homicide, sex, or robbery investigator, etc., will be investigated completely by the affected branch.

 

b.   All other felony and misdemeanor offenses will he investigated by Patrol Division personnel In the district of occurrence.

 

2.   On—View Arrests:

 

a.   On-view arrests by MTP members for felony offenses which require the investigative and technical expertise of Criminal investigations Division and Identification and Records Division personnel shall be handled, as any such arrest Is by department personnel, according to existing directives.

 

b.   On-view arrests for other felony and misdemeanor offenses, which hear potential investigative merit to district investigative personnel, will be called to the attention of that section for purposes of investigation.

 

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 301.06

 

December 15, 1995

5 of 5

 

 

 

3.   Deaths:

 

a.   The MPD will have sole responsibility for the entire investigation of any deaths occurring within or upon WHATA properties.

 

b.   Death notifications will he made by the PIP!) as provided by Central Order No. 401.8

 

c.   The MPD will have sole responsibility for the entire investigation of any bomb threat or suspected explosive device as provided by General Order No. 309.2.

 

I.   Warrant.

The MTP has the power to secure and execute their own warrants within the District of Columbia. If MPD personnel are requested to assist in the service of these warrants, they shall be guided by the provisions of General Order No. 702.1, part ID.

 

J.   Handling Juveniles.

MTP officers who either arrest or contact juveniles will he guided by General Order No. 305.1. Upon request by MTP officers, the MPD will provide transportation services.

 

K.   Traffic and Towing.

 

1.   Traffic Enforcement:

The MPD will have primary traffic enforcement responsibility around WMATA stations and parking lots. The MTP will, however, enforce those violations which come to their attention.

 

2.   Traffic Accidents:

The MPD will handle all traffic

accidents, regardless of location.

 

3.   Towing Services and Impoundments :

The MPD will be responsible for impounding the vehicles of persons arrested by MTP officers, and for all other towing as required by current orders and regulations. MTP will provide its own crane service for MTP vehicles.

 

L.   Crowd Control

Except in minor situations, the MPD will provide crowd control services for demonstrations or disturbances occurring in and around WMATA facilities Located within the District of Columbia.

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