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Seattle -
Keeping you safe on the new "Central Link" light rail system is the goal of the Sound Transit Police.
They have a challenge ahead of them. Seattle Police reports nearly a ten percent spike in serious crime across the city from this time last year.
King County Sheriff Deputy Ron Harrington volunteered to work with the light rail police force.
"What we don't want to happen is we don't want people to feel intimidated or unsafe," says Deputy Harrington. "Any kind of graffiti we will not tolerate that at all. Anybody that sets up to sell drugs on it, we're going to be on them right now."
Sound Transit Police will monitor the stations and ride on the trains. Undercover officers will also have their eyes peeled. Good news to Rainier Beach resident Brian Green.
"We've got too many shootings here. Too many young people they pick up a weapon first and think second," says Green.
The violence has been a concern, and Green hopes that crime doesn't spill over to the nearby "Link" terminal.
"I do worry about kids and elderly people in the area riding it. I just hope they are ok."
When you get to a platform and are waiting to board, there are security measures in place right now. In case of an emergency, there are phones on the platforms that connect directly to 911. There are also several surveillance cameras set up at each station.
"Not only are they monitored but they are recorded. If somebody does something at the station we don't have to be present. We can use it for probable cause for an arrest at a later time," says Deputy Harrington.
Things kick off on Saturday, July 18, 2009 with free rides to the public. All 27 members of the Sound Transit Police will be on duty.
The Sound Transit Police is made up of sworn sheriff's deputies, sergeants, detectives and patrol officers. Over the next three years, Sound Transit plans to add 65 unarmed security guards and a dozen fare-enforcement officers to the force.
Stay tuned to Q13 FOX News tomorrow night, when we talk about the future of the light rail line. It is expanding and we'll tell you when it could be coming to your neighborhood.
They have a challenge ahead of them. Seattle Police reports nearly a ten percent spike in serious crime across the city from this time last year.
King County Sheriff Deputy Ron Harrington volunteered to work with the light rail police force.
"What we don't want to happen is we don't want people to feel intimidated or unsafe," says Deputy Harrington. "Any kind of graffiti we will not tolerate that at all. Anybody that sets up to sell drugs on it, we're going to be on them right now."
Sound Transit Police will monitor the stations and ride on the trains. Undercover officers will also have their eyes peeled. Good news to Rainier Beach resident Brian Green.
"We've got too many shootings here. Too many young people they pick up a weapon first and think second," says Green.
The violence has been a concern, and Green hopes that crime doesn't spill over to the nearby "Link" terminal.
"I do worry about kids and elderly people in the area riding it. I just hope they are ok."
When you get to a platform and are waiting to board, there are security measures in place right now. In case of an emergency, there are phones on the platforms that connect directly to 911. There are also several surveillance cameras set up at each station.
"Not only are they monitored but they are recorded. If somebody does something at the station we don't have to be present. We can use it for probable cause for an arrest at a later time," says Deputy Harrington.
Things kick off on Saturday, July 18, 2009 with free rides to the public. All 27 members of the Sound Transit Police will be on duty.
The Sound Transit Police is made up of sworn sheriff's deputies, sergeants, detectives and patrol officers. Over the next three years, Sound Transit plans to add 65 unarmed security guards and a dozen fare-enforcement officers to the force.
Stay tuned to Q13 FOX News tomorrow night, when we talk about the future of the light rail line. It is expanding and we'll tell you when it could be coming to your neighborhood.
