Maryland Transportation Authority Police

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police is the second largest state law enforcement agency in Maryland and is charged with providing law enforcement services on Maryland Transportation Authority

Maryland Transportation Authority

The Maryland Transportation Authority is an independent state agency responsible for financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining eight toll facilities, currently consisting of two toll roads, two tunnels, and four bridges in Maryland...

highways and facilities throughout the state of Maryland in addition to contractual services that are provided at BWI Airport, the Port of Baltimore and the Motor Vehicle Administration Headquarters.

History

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police trace their beginnings to the opening of the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel in 1957, when the Harbor Tunnel Special Police Force was established. In 1971 this force developed a State-authorized Police Academy, Commercial Vehicle Safety Division, police-apprenticeship program, and an Honor/Color Guard. In 1998 by act of the Maryland General Assembly

Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...

the Maryland Port Administration Police was abolished and the members were merged into the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. The department assumed law enforcement responsibilities for the Port of Baltimore facilities including the Canton, Seagirt, Dundalk, Clinton Street, Fairfield and Locust Point

Locust Point, Baltimore

Locust Point is a peninsular neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. Located in South Baltimore, the neighborhood is entirely surrounded by the Locust Point Industrial Area; the traditional boundaries are Lawrence street to the west and the Patapsco River to the north, south, and east...

Marine Terminals, as well as the Baltimore World Trade Center

Baltimore World Trade Center

Located on the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore World Trade Center is the world's tallest regular pentagonal building . It was designed by the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, with the principal architects being Henry N...

. Today the department has grown to encompass law enforcement responsibilities at Maryland's transportation facilities projects, the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...

, and the Port of Baltimore.

Past Chief's

Chief Marcus L. Brown, 2007-2011
Chief Gary McLhinney, 2003-2007
Chief Larry Harmel, 1997-2003
Chief Edward Hechmer, 1982-1997
Acting Commander Lionel Foote, 1981-1982
Major Walter Wallace, 1977-1981
Captain John J. Zimmerer 1971-1977
Captain John J. Zimmerer 1957-1971

Overview

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the first state law enforcement agency to be nationally accredited in Maryland, is the second largest state law enforcement agency and the seventh largest law enforcement agency in the State of Maryland with 500 sworn officers and 100 civilian law enforcement professionals.[2] The Maryland Transportation Authority Police provide law enforcement services to some of the most critical transportation infrastructures in the state of Maryland. These areas include all Maryland Transportation Authority highways such as Interstate 95, Interstate 895, portions of Interstate-695,U.S. Routes 40, 50, 301, and the Intercounty Connector MD 200. In addition to these responsibilities the Maryland Transportation Authority Police also handle the law enforcement services at the Baltimore Washington/ Thurgood Marshall Airport, the Port of Baltimore, the Motor Vehicle Administration Headquarters and the MARC Rail Lines. The Maryland Transportation Authority Police also provide law enforcement services and inspections related to commercial vehicle truck safety on Interstate 95 (JFK Highway), Interstate 895, Interstate 695, US-50, and US-301. The Maryland State Police, under contract with the Maryland Transportation Authority, provides law-enforcement services along the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (IS 95 from northern Baltimore City to the Delaware state line).

Organizational Structure

Operations Bureau
Administrative Services Bureau
Special Operations Division
Patrol Division
Airport/Seaport Division
Support Services Division
Budget & Planning

Rank Structure

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police is a paramilitary

Paramilitary

A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....

organization with a rank structure similar to the United States military. The ranks of corporal through lieutenant are based on promotional testing. ; captains and above are appointed by the chief of police.

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police rank structure is as listed:

Rank	Insignia	Description
Chief Of Police		The Chief of Police for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police holds the rank of three stars. The Chief is the Agency Executive of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and is appointed by the board members of the Maryland Transportation Authority approved by the Governor for the state of Maryland.
Lieutenant Colonel
Major		Majors are responsible for commanding a specific division/bureau within the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.
Captain		The specific responsibilities of a captain vary depending upon where they are assigned within the agency. For example, a captain may be a detachment commander at a specific detachment. Captain's also may be assigned to work within another division/bureau of the agency.
Lieutenant		A lieutenant is generally the assistant commander to a detachment. However lieutenant's have held detachment commands as the primary commanding officer. Lieutenant's also may be assigned to work within another division/bureau of the agency.
First Sergeant		First sergeants are generally smaller detachment commanders, small unit commanders, or even assistant detachment commanders. First sergeants also may be assigned to work within another division/bureau of the agency.
Sergeant		Sergeants serve as shift commanders or duty officers. At smaller detachments sergeants are generally assistant detachment commanders. Sergeants also may be assigned to work within another division/bureau of the agency.
Corporal		Corporals are the first line supervisors and are usually assigned as road supervisors within detachment. In the absence of a sergeant, they may act as the duty officer.
Officer First Class		Officers who complete two years of satisfactory service are promoted to the rank of Officer First Class (OFC.II).
Officer		Officer Candidate's successfully completing the academy and field training are appointed as an Officer (OFC.I).

Training Academy

Members of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police are professional law-enforcement officers who must meet established standards and successfully complete a rigorous training program as required by the Maryland Police Training Commission

Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission

Headquartered in Sykesville, MD, the Maryland Police And Correctional Training Commissions is a state oversight agency for all law enforcement and correctional agencies in Maryland.-Duties:...

. Officer candidates receive this training at the Maryland Transportation Authority's Police Training Academy, a fully accredited police-training facility located near the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge. Officer candidates are expected to maintain physical and mental discpline throughout the academy.

The standard training course covers subjects such as criminal and motor-vehicle law, accident investigation, first aid, abnormal psychology, traffic control, criminal investigation, defensive tactics, weapons qualifications and court procedures. In addition, college credits are available at the Community College of Baltimore County, Dundalk Campus.

Academy students are required to maintain a high academic standing during their seven-month classroom training. Upon graduation, officers will be assigned to Field Training Officers for an additional eight weeks of training. Thereafter, officers are eligible for assignment to any of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police detachments located throughout Maryland.

Detachments

Detachment | Location | Region

Headquarters/Training Academy | Baltimore Co. | Central
Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge | Harford, Cecil Co. (US 40) | Northern
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway | Harford, Cecil Co. ( IS 95) | Northern
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Unit JFK | Harford, Cecil Co. ( IS 95) | Northern
Ft. McHenry/ Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard Co. ( IS 95 & IS 895)| Central
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Unit Metro | Baltimore City ( IS 95 & IS 895) | Central
Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge | Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel Co. ( IS 695) | Central
Port Of Baltimore | Baltimore City | Central
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration HQ | Anne Arundel Co. | Central
Baltimore Washington/ Thurgood Marshall Airport | Anne Arundel Co. | Central
Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge | Charles Co. | Southern
William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge | Anne Arundel Co. | Southern
Intercounty Connector | Montgomery, Prince George's Co. | Southern

Specialized Units

Maryland Transportation Authority Police Specialized Units are:

Homeland Enforcement Action Team (HEAT)
Motor Unit
K-9 Unit
Marine Unit
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Unit (CVSU)
Detective Unit
Internal Affairs Unit (IAU)
Hostage Negotiations Team
Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
Aggressive Driving Unit (ADU)
Special Response Team (SRT)
Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
Bicycle Patrol
Honor Guard
Honor Guard Rifle Team
Information and Technology Law Enforcement Unit (ITLE)
Recruitment and Selection Unit
Public Affairs Unit
Training Unit

Equipment

Weapons-

Maryland Transportation Authority Police Officers are currently issued a Glock 22 .40 caliber ( " Safe Action") pistol. Some officers are also issued a 870 Remington 12 gauge shotgun but, all officers are certified to operate both weapons. Additionally officers are issued a ASP collaspable baton and OC Spray.

Patrol Vehicles-

The Maryland Transportation Authority Police currently use the police package Ford Crown Victoria, Dodge Charger, and Chevorlet Impala as their primary patrol vehicles.