Silver Line Opening Requires Increased Cooperation Between County, Transit Police

With four new Metro rail stations opening with the Silver Line—on top of the four already in Fairfax County—county and Metro police will have their hands full and may see an increase in crime.

Soon, the two agencies will come together along with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to provide personnel with basic information about the rail infrastructure and how to respond to various situations.

Earlier this year, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)reported an increase in crime across the Metro rail system, primarily attributable to more "snatchings" of small electronic devices like iPhones.

“We’re doubling the amount of stations we’ll have in Fairfax County,” said Capt. Dan Janickey, commander of the McLean District Police Station. The station covers Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, McLean, Tyson’s Corner, and Great Falls where a majority of Metro’s rail stations are located. “It’s going to change the way we police.”

The training will be done in two phases starting this spring, said Philip Stewart, a Metro spokesman. Police and fire personnel will first go through classroom instruction followed by on-site training this fall to get the various agencies familiar with the new facilities.

The on-site training this fall will include three training exercises to maximize familiarization for the officers and firefighters. Stewart did not elaborate what the training would include but said the various agencies would receive basic information on the new addition to the rail system.

“This is a standard, planned part of the countdown to opening any new rail segment,” Stewart said.

Janickey said the McLean and Reston police stations will be the first two to go through the training since the new Silver Line stations will be in their districts. The Silver Line is scheduled to begin operation in late 2013.

Janickey said his officers are ready to police the expanding area, especially the new rail line. With 10 officer receiving awards for valor and three others receiving life saving awards in the spring, he said he’s certain the officers from the McLean police station are ready for anything.

“They’re excited about it,” Janickey said. “It’s going to be interesting to see how things go when the stations open.”