View source for Amtrak Police Department

{{short description|Private railroad police department of Amtrak}}
{{Organization 
|OrganizationName=Amtrak Police Department (APD)
|OrganizationType=Government Corporations (Sub-organization)
|Mission=To protect America's railroads by providing security for rail passengers and property of Amtrak. The department works to ensure the safety and security of Amtrak's employees, customers, and infrastructure through law enforcement activities.
|OrganizationExecutive=Chief of Police
|Employees=431
|Budget=
|Website=https://police.amtrak.com/
|Services=Patrol; Criminal Investigations; Counterterrorism; K9 Explosive Detection; Human Trafficking Awareness
|ParentOrganization=Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corporation)
|CreationLegislation=Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970
|Regulations=
|HeadquartersLocation=38.897869, -77.007702
|HeadquartersAddress=Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002, United States
}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname        = Amtrak Police Department
| commonname        = Amtrak Police
| abbreviation      = APD
| patch             = Amtrak Police logo.jpg
| patchcaption      = Supervisor Patch of the Amtrak Police Department
| speciality1       = rail
| country           = United States
| federal           = Yes
| legaljuris        = Amtrak Rail System
| headquarters      = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| police            = Yes
| sworn             = 431
| sworntype         = Police Officer
| chief2name        = [[Sam Dotson|D. Samuel Dotson]]
| chief2position    = Chief of Police
| website           = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''Amtrak Police Department''' ('''APD''') is a [[Federal law enforcement in the United States|federal]] [[railroad police]] department of [[Amtrak]] (also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation), the government-owned passenger train system in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrakpolice.com/|title=Amtrak Police Department|website=amtrakpolice.com|publisher=Amtrak Police Department|access-date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> It is headquartered at [[Washington Union Station|Union Station]] in [[Washington, D.C.]], and as of 2019 has a force of 452 sworn police officers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/05/03/amtrak-cuts-will-jeopardize-safety-security-police-union/|title=Amtrak Threatens Police Department Cuts|date=May 3, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> most of whom are stationed within the [[Northeast Corridor]], Amtrak's busiest route.<ref name=prisonpolicy2006/>

The APD has primary jurisdiction over [[List of Amtrak stations|Amtrak stations]] nationwide, trains, [[Right-of-way (transportation)|rights-of-way]], maintenance facilities, and crimes committed against Amtrak, its employees, or its passengers. The APD is one of six American [[Railroad classes|Class I railroad]] law enforcement agencies, alongside those of [[BNSF Police Department|BNSF]], [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City|CPKC]], [[CSX Transportation|CSX]], [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]], and [[Union Pacific Police Department|Union Pacific]].

Since 1979, most Amtrak police officers have been trained at the [[Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers]] (FLETC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrakpolice.com/index.php/about/apd-history|title=A Brief History of the Amtrak Police Department|website=amtrakpolice.com|publisher=Amtrak Police Department|access-date=November 23, 2015|archive-date=November 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124153118/http://www.amtrakpolice.com/index.php/about/apd-history|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fletc.gov/current-partners|title=Current Partners|website=fletc.gov|publisher=[[Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers]]|access-date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> although some recruits may be certified through a local police academy.

==Authority==
[[File:Amtrak Police SUV Dog Unit Washington-400.JPG|thumbnail|upright|right|Amtrak Police SUVs outside [[Washington Union Station]] in July 2011]]

Created by [[United States Congress|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:

{{Blockquote
|text=(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 rights of way.

==Counter-terrorism==
[[File:New York National Guard provides security on Anniversary of Bin Laden Death DVIDS570827.jpg|thumb|[[New York Army National Guard|New York National Guard]] members and an Amtrak police officer at [[New York Penn Station]] in 2012]]

Since the [[September 11 attacks]], APD has become more terrorism-focused. Such mission shift became even more prevalent after the [[2004 Madrid train bombings|Madrid train bombings]] in 2004. It maintains a robust [[Police dog|K-9]] division composed of patrol and bomb dogs.

==Police cover==
APD officers 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 generally are stationed in busier locations.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

== Operational Divisions ==
[[File:AMTRAK Police Department (6056189710).jpg|thumb|Amtrak Police Department K9 unit]]

Each of the Divisional Commands provides various police services for the geographical area they cover. The different divisions within the department can be categorized as the following:

* '''Patrol Division''' – Patrol Officers fulfill traditional policing functions. They act as a deterrent to crime in the stations, on trains, in and around Amtrak facilities, and out on the rights-of-way by enforcing laws, providing support at stations, and boarding trains.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/patrol|title=Amtrak Police Patrol|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204101130/https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/patrol|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''Criminal Investigations Division''' - The Criminal Investigations Unit is responsible for most follow-up investigations and the coordination of any criminal investigative efforts.<ref name=":0" /> This Division includes both investigators and detectives.
*'''Office of Intelligence and Analysis''' - The Office of Intelligence and Analysis serves as a support element for the various patrol divisions. Through analysis and dissemination of intelligence information, it seeks to increase the safety and security of the passengers and personnel by increasing the department's insight into ongoing threats and potential terrorist acts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/special-operations/intelligence-counter-terrorism-unit|title=Amtrak Police Intelligence Unit|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=January 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129191448/http://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/special-operations/intelligence-counter-terrorism-unit|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''Administration -''' The higher-ranking officers who are responsible for reporting the daily operations to the Amtrak Corporation itself, as well as the responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day functions of the department.
* '''Support Operations Divisions''' -  Includes the Training Unit, Quartermaster Unit, Police Technology Unit, and Police Report Requests Unit.
* '''K9 Unit''' - The Amtrak Police Department K-9 teams provide a deterrent to potential threats from explosives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/special-operations/k-9-unit|title=Amtrak Police K9 Unit|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204113851/https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/special-operations/k-9-unit|url-status=dead}}</ref> K9 teams are deployed at stations and occasionally on trains throughout the system as well as right-of-way patrols.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Putz|first=Nastassia|magazine=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]]|publisher=[[Kalmbach Media]]|pages=14–19|title=BEHIND THE BADGE|number=9 Vol 83|date= September 2023}}</ref>
*'''National Communications Center''' - Amtrak's National Communications Center (NCC) is the coordination center for the Amtrak Police Department.  NCC Communications Officers answer calls and respond to text messages from the APD11 "txt-a-tip" system.  The NCC also dispatches officers as needed to respond to incidents and events throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/national-comm-center|title=Amtrak Police NCC|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=May 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505021255/https://police.amtrak.com/index.php/overview/national-comm-center|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Rank structure and insignia==
[[File:Monday afternoon, 18 January 2021 Walk from WMATA NoMa Station to Senate Park - Washington DC IMG 1921 (50850753753).jpg|thumb|An Amtrak police officer on patrol]]

Below is the rank structure for the Amtrak PD.
Ranks are listed from junior (bottom) to senior (top).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Title
!Insignia
|-
|Chief of Police
|[[Image:4 Gold Stars.svg|center|108px]]
|-
|Assistant Chief of Police
|[[File:3 Gold Stars.svg|alt=|center|frameless|81px]]
|-
|Deputy Chief
|[[Image:2 Gold Stars.svg|center|54px]]
|-
|Inspector
|[[Image:1 Gold Star.svg|center|27px]]
|-
|Captain
|[[Image:Captain_insignia_gold.svg|center|25px]]
|-
|Lieutenant
|[[File:US-O1 insignia.svg|center|frameless|10px]]
|-
|Sergeant
|[[Image:NYPD Sergeant Stripes.svg|center|35px]]
|-
|Detective (Gold Badge/insignias)
|
|-
|Special Agent (Gold Badge/insignias)
|
|-
|Criminal Investigator
|
|-
|Police Officer
|
|-
|}

== Controversies ==
[[File:AMTRAK Police Department (6056185364).jpg|thumb|Amtrak Police Department prisoner transport vehicle]]

In 2016, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General launched an investigation into the then-Amtrak Police Chief Polly Hanson, regarding a conflict of interest involving her boyfriend who had been awarded a counterterrorism contract she helped oversee, and in whose award Hanson reportedly had influence. In statements, Hanson claimed no knowledge of the boyfriend, but an investigation revealed that they had been cohabiting in a condominium that they jointly owned. In September 2016, after the presidency of Amtrak had passed from [[Joseph H. Boardman|Joseph Boardman]] (who had appointed Hanson in 2012) to [[Charles Moorman|Wick Moorman]], Chief Hanson resigned.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

On February 8, 2017, Amtrak Police Officer LaRoyce Tankson shot and killed an unarmed man, Chad Robertson, who had been spotted smoking marijuana outside [[Chicago Union Station]] and was running from police.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mclaughlin |first=Timothy |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Amtrak police officer charged with murder in Chicago shooting |language=en |work=Reuters |editor-last=Brown |editor-first=Tom |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chicago-shooting-idUSKBN15W2D3 |access-date=August 29, 2023}}</ref> The bullet was fired from a distance between 75 and 100 feet and struck Robertson in the shoulder from behind.<ref name="Chicago Sun">{{Cite web |last=Esposito |first=Stefano |date=February 18, 2017 |title=Amtrak cop charged with murder bonds out of jail |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/2/18/18322437/amtrak-cop-charged-with-murder-bonds-out-of-jail |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> Tankson's attorney, Will Fahy, claimed Tankson saw Robertson turn and reach for what Tankson thought was a firearm and thus believed he was about to be shot.<ref name="Chicago Sun" /> However, four eyewitnesses stated they did not see Robertson gesture having a gun.<ref name="Chicago Sun" /> Tankson was charged with first degree murder and released from custody after posting ten percent of the $250,000 bail.<ref name="Chicago Sun" /> On March 8, 2017, Amtrak's Fraternal Order of Police lodge claimed having collected more than $4,000 to help Tankson, contending that he fired in self-defense.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/8/union-raises-4000-for-amtrak-officer-charged-with-/ Union raises $4,000 for Amtrak officer charged with murder], ''[[The Washington Times]]'', March 8, 2017, retrieved on: February 20, 2018.</ref> On February 28, 2020, Officer Tankson was acquitted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/judge-acquits-amtrak-officer-in-fatal-chicago-shooting/2228317/|title=Judge Acquits Amtrak Officer in Fatal Chicago Shooting|website=NBC Chicago|access-date=June 7, 2021|date=February 28, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Bahnpolizei]]
* [[British Transport Police]]
* [[Federal law enforcement in the United States]]
* [[Railway Security Guard]]
* [[Transit police]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em|refs=
<ref name=prisonpolicy2006>
{{cite journal
| url         = https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/bjs/fleo04.pdf
| title       = Federal Law Enforcement Officers, 2004
| publisher   = [[Bureau of Justice Statistics]]
| date        = July 2006
| author      = Brian A. Reaves
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20200826174830/https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/bjs/fleo04.pdf
| archive-date = August 26, 2020
| url-status  = live
}}
</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Amtrak Police}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Amtrak}}
{{Federal law enforcement agencies of the United States}}

[[Category:Amtrak|Police]]
[[Category:Railroad police departments of the United States]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Agency-specific police departments of the United States]]