Tampa Transit System Steps Up Security Following Bus Driver Fatality

Tampa Transit System Steps Up Security Following Bus Driver Fatality

A transit system near Tampa, Fla. is boosting security measures after a bus driver was stabbed to death by a passenger.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • May 30, 2019

Staff and passengers of the Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit System (HART) in Tampa, Fla. will begin to see enhanced security measures starting June 1, the result of a plan to strengthen security and keep bus drivers safe.

The $1.3 million security changes have been slated for implementation for some time, but a recent incident on a HART bus has expedited the process. 

On May 20, HART bus driver Thomas Dunn was fatally stabbed, allegedly by a passenger, while on route. The stabbing came just five months after Dunn had spoke at a HART meeting, raising concerns about safety after he'd been assaulted by a passenger. 

At the time, HART told local reporters," As concerns are brought to HART, we develop corrective action plans and they're given to the appropriate division and then we follow all our safety protocol to make sure we are addressing them throughout policies and procedures."

Now, HART is making concrete changes to the safety and security of its staff and passengers. According to Colin Mulloy, the director of safety and security for HART, every bus and streetcar in the fleet will have brand new HD security cameras that will allow HART officials and law enforcement agents to tap into the video system and monitor any given situation in real-time. 

Mulloy also said there will be a video screen inside the busses to remind passengers that they are being recorded. Florida will be the first state to implement these kinds of security changes on buses.

In addition to new technology on the busses, armed guards will be stationed along certain drop-off and pick-up points to boost security.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3