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

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • 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.