Common name Amtrak Police Federal agency
(Operations jurisdiction) United States | Abbreviation APD Legal jurisdiction Amtrak Rail System | |
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency General nature Federal law enforcement
Civilian police | ||
Amtrak police department recruitment video
The Amtrak Police Department (APD) is a railroad police agency, security organization that acts as the law enforcement arm of Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation), the government-owned passenger train system in the United States. It is headquartered at Union Station in Washington, D.C., and has about 505 sworn police officers, most of whom are stationed within the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak's busiest route.
Contents
- Amtrak police department recruitment video
- Man shot by amtrak police near union station
- Authority
- References
This quasi-federal agency has primary jurisdiction on Amtrak stations nationwide, trains, rights-of-way, maintenance facilities and crimes committed against Amtrak or its passengers.
Since 1979, most Amtrak police officers are trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) although some recruits may be certified through a local police academy.
In 2016, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General launched an investigation into then-Amtrak Police chief Polly Hansen, regarding conflict of interest involving Hansen, her boyfriend who was awarded a counterterrorism contract she helped oversee, and in whose award Hansen reportedly had influence. In statements, Hansen claimed no knowledge of the boyfriend, but investigation revealed that they had been cohabiting in a condominium that they jointly owned. In September 2017, after the presidency of Amtrak had passed from Joseph Boardman (who had appointed Hansen in 2012) to Wick Moorman, Chief Hansen resigned.
On February 8, 2017, Amtrak Police officer LaRoyce Tankson shot and killed an unarmed man who had been spotted smoking marijuana outside Chicago's Union Station. Tankson was charged with first degree murder by State's prosecutor.
Man shot by amtrak police near union station
Authority
Created by Congress, Amtrak’s enabling legislation under the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, now codified starting at 49 U.S.C. 24101, established the authority for Amtrak to have its own police force. The statutory authority was unique at the time and included interstate police powers. The Amtrak rail police law, now found at 49 U.S.C. 24305 (e), states as follows:
(e) Rail Police. —Amtrak may employ rail police to provide security for rail passengers and property of Amtrak. Rail police employed by Amtrak who have complied with a state law establishing requirements applicable to rail police or individuals employed in a similar position may be employed without regard to the law of another state containing those requirements.
In sum, Amtrak police officers have the same police authority as a local or state law enforcement officer within their jurisdiction. They investigate various types of crime that occur within and around stations, trains and/or right of ways. Since after the September 11, 2001, attacks on American soil, APD has become more terrorism-focused. Such mission shift became even more prevalent after the Madrid train bombings in 2004. It maintains a robust K-9 division composed of patrol and bomb dogs. APD officers constantly work in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement to perform their duties in accordance with the agency's mission to protect America's railroads. In theory, officers have jurisdiction in all the 46 states where Amtrak operates but in practice are stationed in busier locations.
