At the Zone 5 Community Meeting last night, there was a discussion of complaints filed by bicyclists against Port Authority of Allegheny County bus drivers. The Zone 5 (Acting) Commander confirmed that any such calls were immediately transferred to the Port Authority Police. (Which then has the responsibility of following up on a complaint against a fellow PAT employee.)
In checking out the Port Authority website, I wonder if this is the way it has to be handled. From their website, it says that PAT Police:
(were) organized (in 1968) to oversee the security and protection of Port Authority customers, employees and facilities. Empowered by state law and commissioned by the Governor, Port Authority police officers have jurisdiction on and adjacent to Port Authority property as well as throughout the Commonwealth when in pursuit of Port Authority business.
Since an incident between a bus driver and a cyclists is not securing or protecting PAT customers, employees or property - why does the PAT Police have jurisdiction?
The website continues - The Port Authority Police Station is ... the control center for all law enforcement activities related to Port Authority operations. These include:
Uniformed foot patrol of the subway and other Port Authority facilities
Patrols on Port Authority's East and South Busways and properties throughout Allegheny County in marked and unmarked vehicles
Accident investigations
Undercover surveillance
Internal investigations
Traffic and crowd control
Neighborhood patrols along bus routes
Traffic Investigations Unit
The Port Authority Police includes a Traffic Investigation Unit to respond to major accidents involving Port Authority. Two officers are trained as Accident Reconstructionists, and other officers have received Basic and Advanced Accident Investigation Training. Officers regularly attend classes sponsored by the Traffic Institute for Police Service and the Federal Transit Administration. The Traffic Unit operates three vehicles equipped with the necessary tools to conduct an on-scene investigation.
Plainclothes/Detective Unit
In 1997, Port Authority Police and Pittsburgh Police Departments began a joint Plainclothes detail in Downtown Pittsburgh to combat street crime. This detail is coordinated by the unit's Detective Sergeant, who is responsible for receiving and following up on complaints by Bus/LRV operators and patrons that require plainclothes officers. Two Pittsburgh Police officers, along with Port Authority officers patrol Downtown Pittsburgh for criminal activity at bus stops and subway stations.
Port Authority police and security officers are here to serve and protect all Port Authority customers.
So, even the plainclothes cops and the accident investigators are charged with protecting PAT employees, customers and property. If you don't fall into one of those three categories, I guess you are SOL -- the local Police will defer to PAT Police, 911 will dispatch only to PAT Police if you mention that a bus was involved, but they have no responsibility for protecting you if you are not a customer or an employee.
Somehow, this doesn't seem right.....anyone care to disagree?
When I was threatened by a port authority driver a few weeks back (http://bike-pgh.org/bbpress/topic/threatened-by-bus-driver-9693) I called 911. They transferred me to the Port Authority police. The officer I talked to there responded along the lines of "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" He then transferred me to Customer Service.
So, yes, your SOL assessment appears to be correct.
An incident between a bus driver and a cyclist IS securing PAT employees (the bus driver) and PAT property (the assets that might be at risk in a lawsuit). The jurisdiction of the Port Authority police is protecting the Port Authority, INC.
It's kind of like the Pinkertons, only they're on the public payroll.
PAT is not unusual in this regard. All transit agencies are permitted to operate their own police forces though they operate under varying constraints depending on the state.
And yeah, it's definitely ripe for abuse, though the abuse seems to run to the neglectful sort, rather than overt corruption.
The real problem, IMO, is the lack of transparency and the lack of elected oversight. The city police department has people looking over their shoulders at every turn. PAT, n o t.
What a mess.
I hereby establish myself of the official police force of the Edmonds family. All civil issues regarding the behavior of the Edmonds family are now under my jurisdiction, all other police bodies should now defer to my authority in civil issues involving the Edmonds family.
Ridiculous.
In researching this I have come up with a couple interesting tidbits:
There is a PortAuthorityPolice.ORG website. It includes a web contact feature (which is non-functioning, of course) and a 24 hour telephone number. Details are:
Port Authority Transit Police
345 Sixth Avenue
3rd Floor
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222
Phone: 412-255-1385 (24hrs)
Fax: 412-255-1352
They also have a myspace page that talks about all the good community policing they do. I submitted a request (by fax) that perhaps they could offer some bike police assistance on the East Liberty Boulevard issue.
From that web-contact thing:
Uh, guys. Element names and ids cannot contain spaces. Geez.
Never say the keyword "bus." Always give vague descriptors: large, long, municipal license plate, etc. If you hurt anywhere, inform 911 you're injured. When PGH police show up, then request an incident and an accident report by them; demand an incident report by PGH police, and do not acknowledge or converse with PAT police.
Good stuff. I'm going to compile a list of things to pass on to Councilman Dowd re: PAT, so keep it coming.
Tried to send this today:
Hi. I was concerned that there exists no readily available information regarding the reported incidents to 911 that the Port Authority Police are dispatched to.
The Pittsburgh Police have a Blotter which is regularly updated here: http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/police/blotter/
Could the Port Authority of Allegheny County provide similar information to the public? Are they currently equip'ed to do so?
Thanks.
Their contact page wasn't working... http://portauthoritypolice.org/contact.htm
So I faxed it.
"So I faxed it."
+1
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/s_685480.html
Finally, a bus driver charged with assault. He didn't hit a cyclist, but he did strike a deputy sheriff.
I wonder what it would take to form a municipal cycling transit authority.
Hey, if PAT can get a 1% alcohol tax, I want the MCTA supported by a 1% gasoline tax.
So, I guess if you hit a deputy sheriff and cause "minor injuries", you get the book thrown at you, but if you kill a cyclist, it's just, "o.k., you're free to go".
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10229/1080685-100.stm
I hope this woman is okay, and I really hope the city(?) police got the details better than the post gazette.
"...a Port Authority bus that struck a woman crossing Forbes Avenue in Oakland"
"...an inbound 61C, had stopped at Fifth and Bellefield in Oakland about 4 p.m. When the bus started to move, it struck the woman who was crossing in front."
So an inbound 61C stopped at 5th and Bellefield, but managed to hit a woman crossing in front of it, on Forbes Ave? I really think there needs to be a non-port authority, unbiased investigation when things like this happen, get witness statements, etc. The article says city police are investigating, but given the level of accuracy any of the other facts, I have reason to doubt that.
It occurs to me that if the Authority is so ailing for money, seems like an excellent cost saving move might be to dismantle THEIR PRIVATE POLICE FORCE and let Allegheny County police handle their law enforcement.
Seems like that would be an easy one to sell to the rural anti-transit wingnuts.
The Port Authority Police are not Police Officers. They are security guards intrusted with the task of protecting Port Authority property, riders, and it's interest. They may have been granted Police Powers, but they are limited to Port Authority Property. The "adjacent" term was added to allows them to prevent blocking of the access to and from the PAT property. Accident investigation is for internal use and defense in court. A local police department should be called to do their own report and investigation. PAT Police have been trying to assume more Police powers on their own. This is due to the ignorance of regular (real) police, weak judges, and a misinformed public. In reality, they have become a goon squad for PAT. The courts do not turn down the money they make off the citations they issue either. These citations carry no weight, but Magistrates and the Courts turn a blind eye. Oh, "the police power they have", it's in making an arrest. Like the citizens arrest except they can get into the fast lane at the county jail. In every respect, PAT Police are a joke at best.
This is 2 years old, do you have an axe to grind?
It's a valid axe, Rice Rocket. You've never been on the receiving end of criminal action by a bus? Or assaulted by a T driver? (both have happened to me)
I was just curious what prompted this.
Grind away!
has this improved or has anybody talked to anybody about this... at all?
etclarify: I mean with regards to the fax that was sent, or people talking to council people, or others talking to PAT or police or whatever.
Has anyone here ever actually had PAT police come to a scene and then been able to demand Pittsburgh Police?
I like the idea, but I'm skeptical.
It might be better to demand Pgh Police while talkng to the dispatcher. (Has anyone tried that?)
Asked and answered. The Port Authority Police cannot justify it's existence only by performing their primary duties. They must expand their activities outside their jurisdiction. Keep in mind that Port Authority Police were hired to act as Security Guards, There qualifications match the primary task. For them to act outside of their intended scope is acting beyond their own capacities. ie: Morons doing brain surgery. This is the world w are living in and it must be stopped. "Axe to grind." Yes, I want sanity back in the world.
Port Authority Police were hired to act as Security Guards, There [sic] qualifications match the primary task.
What are they qualified to do then?
I'm still waiting for a good story that prompted your joining the forum.
Does he need to prove himself? I have several. What's it matter what his beef is?
@Mick - a few years ago a Port Authority officer shot and killed a man in the Armstrong Tunnel during a chase and the Pgh Police closed ranks and backed him up completely. My guess is that in most situations they will work in lockstep, the "brotherhood" thing and all.
Empowered by state law and commissioned by the Governor
Anyone have links to the relevant legislation/statutes/dictatorial decrees referenced here? My Google-fu is failing me today.
It'd be nice to see what the actual grant of authority includes.
The U of Pitt police had state-wide juristiction until that loophole was closed in the 90's(?), so I wouldnt be surprised if PAT cops have way too much power.
Something to consider is to store the local TV station phone numbers in your phone to use in addition to 911 should the need arise. Also, you can ask the 911 operator to send out a commander if you think the cop on scene is acting unprofessional. They may not send one out, but at least it will get recorded.
Does he need to prove himself? I have several. What's it matter what his beef is?
No, but if it was worth digging up a 2 year old thread, I thought it might be a pretty damn good story. Maybe not though.
I have some pretty good info on the PAT police in some 2003 ACTC meeting minutes, but it might take me a week of digging through the attic to find them. Short version, yes, they are full police, but can only enforce PA law on PAT property, which includes rolling stock.
From the Pennsylvania General Assembly - Local Government Commission.
Act of November 23, 1982, P.L. 686, No. 196 (as amended, 22 Pa.C.S. §§ 3301-3305) (the "Act") ENJOY!
See 22 Pa.C.S. § 3303(a) (authorizing the exercise of police powers soley "while engaged in the discharge of their duties in pursuit of railroad, street railway or transportation system business")
> a few years ago a Port Authority officer shot and killed a man in the Armstrong Tunnel
That was Housing Authority PD, which force no longer exists (merged into City PD five or so years ago).
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 535 Session of
1981
INTRODUCED BY KELLEY, MARCH 23, 1981
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 24, 1982
k?
