Sep 7, 2022
Transit Police welcome new Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists (click for larger version)
As our mission states, Connecting the Community is very important to GCRTA. Transit Police introduced the new Transit Ambassador Program on September 6!
What is the Transit Ambassador Program? Who is the New Squad?
The Transit Ambassador Program consists of new Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists. The Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists aid Transit Police in providing a new service to our riders. The Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists serve to reduce law enforcement’s footprint on our transit systems by integrating unarmed professionals to provide a safe environment for riders.
The Transit Ambassadors are the front-end contact for rider requests and customer support. They are easily identifiable in clearly marked red vests, making RTA visible and more approachable to answer rider questions and offer assistance. In addition, our Crisis Intervention Specialists provide mental health, crisis, and substance abuse outreach, while serving as a gateway to establishing relationships with social service agencies for those in need.
To prepare for these roles, the Transit Ambassadors and Crisis Intervention Specialists have received 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Team Training, along with First Aid/CPR/Narcan training while also recognizing how to spot human trafficking incidents. There will be one to two teams per shift, and each team will provide coverage on our HealthLine and rail stations before expanding out to other routes and locations.
“Crime prevention is an ongoing significant challenge for all major transit systems. However, we can and will continue to expand our safety measures with new programs, personnel, and technology to enhance safety for our riders, employees, and the public; to us, safety remains the baseline of all services we provide. And we will never let down our guard. That’s our pledge to you.” - GCRTA General Manager, Chief Executive Officer India L. Birdsong Terry
