Undercover security on VRE (Richmond, Charlottesville: apartment complexes, law, store)

[Hersh]

Really glad to know these folks are riding the VRE trains and are watching out for us... VRE relies on undercover federal agents on trains | Kytja Weir | DC | Washington Examiner (http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/vre-relies-undercover-federal-agents-trains - broken link).

[jillabean]

That's pretty cool. When I ride VRE, I like to watch people and it's amazing how many people are asleep, buried in a newspaper or on their Blackberry. But every now and then I spot another "people watcher." I wonder if those people are the security folks (I always wondered if they were undercover or just bored and like to people watch like me).

[VRE332]

I think they've recruited the normal riders who ride the train to work, who are in law enforcement from multiple agencies and have asked them to help out.

[looktowindward]

Exactly :

"Several years ago, the agency created an undercover rider program similar to the air marshal system on the nation's airlines. In exchange for free rides, the mix of armed Secret Service, FBI and Homeland Security officers agree to stay alert on their commutes and respond as needed. Every train has a designated officer, he said."

This is a really smart solution. Free train passes == instant security. This is an old trick used in apartment complexes, too.

[jillabean]

Originally Posted by looktowindward

Exactly :


This is a really smart solution. Free train passes == instant security. This is an old trick used in apartment complexes, too.

It's similar to what my dad used to do when he managed a 7-11 store years ago... police officers got free coffee and other perks (so they would show up a lot and hang out late night... voila, free--almost--security). This was back before your Starbucks, all night fast-food places, all night gas stations, etc. I think the store hours at that time actually were 7am-11pm too! I know it wasn't open all night because I remember him getting up in the middle of the night because of break-ins.

[Joke Insurance]

I rode the VRE for the first time back in late May. I did notice a few people scoping the place out. It might have been them. Overall though, it was a smooth ride. I hope that VRE can increase train service and expand (Haymarket, Front Royal, Culpepper, Charlottesville and Richmond) in the future.

[VACollegeStudent]

This sounds like a great idea and i know that VRE tends to be used by mostly corporate proffesionals. So i can see why they need the security, but at the same time dont more corporate proffesionals ride the metro daily?? If so is there any measures being taken to emplment a simliar security measure on the metros? Just Food for thought.