The Next Stop: METRO's Podcast
Episode 62: The Person Next to You Could be an MPD Transit Marshal

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Our focus on deployment are based on crime analysis data that identify crime patterns. In short, we work the hot spots.  

Doug Delony:  I’m Doug Delony. On this edition of the Next Stop:  The person next to you on the bus or train may not be in uniform, but they still could be a METRO Police Officer keeping an eye on things.  

[Introduction music plays]  

Doug Delony:  Today, on the Next Stop, we welcome Sergeant Alex Edwards of the METRO Police Department. Thank you for joining us, Sergeant Edwards.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Hey, thanks for having me, Doug.  

Doug Delony:  I know METRO Police—I’m going to be honest here. I think a lot of people see “METRO Police,” and they probably just think—and no offense here—they probably just think, “That’s a security guard for the bus. That’s a security guard for the train.” But really, there is so much more to MPD when it comes to protecting our transit system and community. Is that right?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Doug, it’s funny that you said that. The public asks this question all the time. And basically, I would tell them, “Well, I’ll tell you what, let me take you to a real jail.”  

Doug Delony:  [laughs] Right.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Just joking! Just joking! But METRO Police Department is a real police agency. We’re professionals and dedicated officers that are dedicated to keep our transit system safe. Also, we work with regional partners like HPD, Harris County, and 13 other cities when needed.  

Doug Delony:  And we cover a large service area. I know we’ll talk about that in a little bit, but we do have a jurisdiction, and that jurisdiction is wherever METRO goes. Is that…?

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Correct. We cover Harris County, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Waller County.  

Doug Delony:  And just like any police force, we have ranks and positions. I know we’ve discussed this on some previous episodes of this podcast, but just a little background information for people who may have missed it. I know we have everything from Fare Inspectors, an extremely critical role there because they’re often eyes on the ground as well. That’s a civilian position. But then, moving up through the ranks, we have police officers. We have Sergeants like yourself. I know we have a Police Chief. Can we run through those ranks real quick, as I’m probably missing some? 

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Sure, sure, Doug. First off, we start off as a probationary police officer, and then from there, you graduate, and you become an actual Texas Police Officer. And then from there, you serve as five years as an officer, then you can move up to a sergeant, and then from sergeant—it’s two years as a sergeant—then you can move to the lieutenant position. And after the lieutenant position, after you serve there two years, then we have Assistant Chiefs, and we have the Chief. But they are appointed. 

Doug Delony:  And I know that we’re here today to talk about our marshals. Our Transit Marshals Unit. But really discussing all these positions, and you talked about moving up through the ranks, I’ll just throw this plug out there: If anybody’s interested in joining METRO Police—and there are several kinds of positions, both on the officer side of things or the civilian side of things—go to ridemetro.org/careers. And check out all the positions and opportunities. We have these specialty units as well. Last month, I’m not sure if you’re aware, we spoke to our K-9 team. In the past, we’ve also visited with the C.A.R.E. Unit. And those are the ones that help people in need of housing or care. And I know we also have transit marshals. And that is your department.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Yes, sir.  

Doug Delony:  And what is a “transit marshal”? What’s the difference between a transit marshal and perhaps a regular METRO Police Officer?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Okay, Doug. The Transit Marshal is a METRO Police Unit that is trained for specific duties and responsibilities to respond to crime on and around the METRO system. Now, what’s the difference? The difference between them and a regular police officer is a Transit Marshal Officer supports all METRO Police Divisions. Our focus on deployment are based on crime analysis data that identify crime patterns. In short, we work the hot spots. Hot spot areas of the METRO system. We conduct short and long-term surveillance and tactical operations that require uniform and plain clothes. Not only that, we assist our Criminal Investigation Division with follow-up investigations. Also, we execute pre-approved arrests and search warrants. And also, I can’t leave this out:  We complete special projects and assignments that are assigned through our chain of command.  

Doug Delony:  And I know, like a year or two ago, my first introduction to transit marshals when I was a newer employee here at METRO, I think you guys assisted an outside agency. It was actually a police department well outside of Houston that was looking for a suspect, and somehow, our transit marshal spotted the suspect. They weren’t even on the system, but you guys spotted the vehicle and stopped them, and made a big arrest for that outside agency. So, there’s a lot of duties, and it doesn’t always mean on the line or on a bus or necessarily on a train. But you mentioned plainclothes officers. I think a lot of times, people hear that and think, “Oh, what does this mean? Is that undercover?” And you mentioned those hot spots. So, what you’re saying is if there is a section of the rail line, you know, purple, green, or red, a certain transit center perhaps, maybe it’s a Park and Ride. Or maybe it’s a certain bus line. If there is a certain section of our system that has a hot spot of crime, where there’s a repeated incident, our numbers show that, and perhaps you would have plainclothes officers somewhere along the system.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Yeah, Doug. That’s correct. 

Doug Delony:  And the big message for people here, then, to patrons and our community, is really the person next to you on the train or bus may not look like a police officer. They may not be in uniform. They may not even look like a METRO employee. But as it turns out, they very well could be an officer there to keep an eye on you and keep an eye on the community and keep everyone safe. Sometimes, we hear a lot from people who say, “Well, I never see police officers. I never see….” I’ve asked this before with various guests on this podcast. I want your take on this. What are some of the challenges covering, serving, and protecting such a large service area as METRO’s? I think we serve roughly 1,300 square miles. That’s one thousand three hundred square miles. Almost 10,000 transit stops across multiple counties and multiple cities.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  I would have to say our respond time. However, we combat that with the partnerships of our outside police agencies to help out when needed.  

Doug Delony:  Absolutely.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  And when I say that, Doug, is we call out to them, and we let them know, “Hey, a crime has been committed. Can you make that location? And we’ll have officers en route.” 

Doug Delony:  You know, that was going to be my next question:  If this is the challenge, then what’s the solution? And again, leaning on those partnerships is really super critical for anybody who may have spotted something questionable. I know sometimes those outside agencies or another police department might forward something along to METRO, and you guys will send something back over to them. And I know we didn’t expand too much—going back to transit marshals and what you guys do—we didn’t expand on it too much because there are some things that we just really can’t talk about because…

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Right, right.  

Doug Delony:  …there are operations every single day in our transit system. I don’t want to say “secrets,” but obviously, we don’t want to give away everything that you guys do. But there’s so much more than meets the eye. Is that right?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Yes, sir. Yes, sir.  

Doug Delony:  But I also know technology plays a big role in helping. We have surveillance cameras across the system. I think we have them, what on, on platforms. We have them at transit centers. We have them at some of our Park and Rides. We have them on buses, inside and outside of the vehicle. We have them on light rail cars, inside and outside the vehicle. I know on some of our buses, we’re starting to install these large monitors so people can see that there are surveillance cameras. Can you speak briefly to how important surveillance cameras are in what you guys do?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Cameras help us do our follow-up investigations, where if an officer submits a primary report and doesn’t have all the information that they needed at the time they took the reports. We rely on our surveillance systems. Our METRO Criminal Investigation Division will pull that footage, and then they will conduct follow-up investigations. And if it needs to be followed up more, they will partner up with the transit marshals. And we will actually review that footage and pretty much help along with our Criminal Investigation Division getting warrants and then doing follow-up investigations, where we would go out and talk and interview other suspects, other witnesses, and then try to make a case off of that surveillance footage. So, once again, though, the surveillance footage plays an important part of METRO Police Investigations.  

Doug Delony:  And what I really like about them is it’s not just police who have access to them. Our METRO colleagues over in the rail operations and our bus operations. There are people constantly monitoring these various feeds to make sure—not just for criminal activity but also for safety. Making sure that pedestrians aren’t on the line. That everything is moving smoothly. Monitoring these systems constantly requires a lot of surveillance cameras. And that’s really where they come into play as well. But also, in our technology, we have different ways for people to reach MPD. Reach out to MPD dispatchers. Can you talk about some of the ways that people can do that?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Uh, sure. MPD has an app, which is called the “MPD Connect” app. I would suggest that they utilize the red button and the blue light call box at the facilities and also on the platforms. Also, we have—you can connect to MPD Dispatch through your cell phone by dialing #MPD.  

Doug Delony:  Super easy to remember that one.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Yeah. And then, lastly, we can’t forget the traditional method. Just dial 9-1-1. 

Doug Delony:  Right. In an emergency, you know, don’t fumble with the app. Don’t fumble with trying #MPD and all this. I mean, if it’s actually an emergency, something that’s in progress, happening at that moment that needs to be rectified, you need police intervention, absolutely call 9-1-1. But also, I like the fact that you can message MPD within the Connect app. So, if you’re on a bus or train, and you don’t want to look like you’re reporting something necessarily. Or some people these days, especially, they are more comfortable sending a message, typing out a message on their phone, and sending it, almost like a text message within the app. And you can directly have a conversation, a little chat, with MPD Dispatchers using the MPD Connect app. As we wrap up this conversation, what are three tips or little bits of info you would tell the public about staying safe on the transit system?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  My first thing, you know, METRO slogan:  See something…

Doug Delony:  Right.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  …say something. [Laughs] If you see something, just say something. But I like to add to that is if you see something, say something, but also do something. You can store an MPD number in your phone. Also, stay alert. Sit at the front of the train car near the rail operator and do not sit directly by the doors on the bus and the trains.  

Doug Delony:  When I’m out in public, whether I’m on the METRO system or not, I’m always thinking about ways I can lower chances of being involved in an incident.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Right.  

Doug Delony:  Lower the chance—increase my chances of staying safe. And certainly, not being near the doors is helpful when it’s possible. And staying alert. You know, a lot of people get buried in their phones. It’s okay to use your phone, and that’s one of the things that we talk about a lot. On the local bus service, you can use your computer. On the Park and Ride buses, you can use your computer. But it’s also good to not get too buried in. You really have to stay alert and stay focused. And when you’re walking along the transit system, look both ways. Make sure you know who’s around you. And it’s not about being scared or staying scared. It’s just about staying alert and aware of your surroundings because some people get so buried in the technology, right?  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Uh, like you said, just—you just want to lower your chances for being vulnerable for a suspect to commit a crime. While you’re sitting by the door, that’s an easy way for them to commit a snatch and grab.  

Doug Delony:  Right. And I know major, serious crimes across the transit system are actually rare. A lot of the times, the suspects and the victims, they know each other. There is some other context to it that doesn’t get brought up. But we see these major incidents, and we think, “Oh, well, it’s unsafe.” But the good news is, actually, major incidents on the transit system remain very rare. And overall, I mean, people ask me, you know, living in the city, “Aren’t you scared of living in the city and all the crime?” And it’s like, “No, I’m more scared to drive on the freeway every day…

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Right. [laughs]

Doug Delony:  …for 40 minutes.” You know, there’s a lot of incidents on the freeway. Road rage and all these things. I mean, really, about increasing your chances of staying safe and decreasing your chances of being in an incident, just like you’re driving along in a car. You know, don’t make gestures to other people. Don’t exchange words. Keep to yourself. Don’t get involved in conflicts, whether physical or verbal.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Right.  

Doug Delony:  Is there anything that I missed in this conversation that you wished I had asked or that you wished I brought up? 

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Um, no. Well, I mean, I would like to say the METRO Police Department wants the citizens to know that we care and we’re here to serve and to protect them. And always, I have to throw this in, Doug:  Hey, we are hiring! All you need to do is go to ridemetro.org and place an application. We need help. Come aboard. Join us. 

Doug Delony:  Absolutely. It takes a community to keep the community safe. And going back to what we said earlier in this podcast. There’s sometimes a notion, “I never see the police, you know?” Really, everybody’s eyes are important, and it takes—it’s everybody’s job to keep everybody safe. It’s not just the police officers. It’s all of our METRO colleagues. All of our co-workers and our colleagues. But it’s also a member of the public. It’s on our patrons as well. And again, I’m going to triple down here:  See something, say something. But Sergeant Edwards, I really appreciate your time. I know you all stay busy. We had to schedule this recording early in the morning on a Friday just because your Fridays, even, are so packed, and I really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us here on the Next Stop.  

Sergeant Alex Edwards:  Again, thanks for having me, Doug.  

Doug Delony:  I would encourage all of our listeners to visit ridemetro.org/safety. Thank you again, Sergeant Edwards. That wraps it up for this edition. Thanks also to you, the listener, and all of our METRO riders out there. As a reminder, you can reach METRO’s awesome customer service team. Call us or even text us at 713-635-4000. Again, if you need MPD, on your cell phone, you can dial #MPD, and also, there’s that MPD Connect app, where you can message police. I’m Doug Delony. If you’d like to check out more episodes and subscribe to this podcast, you can find all the links you need on ridemetro.org/podcast. As always, drive less and do more with Houston METRO.  

[Music plays to the end] 



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