[PRCo] PRCo Armed Motormen

[Herb Brannon]

It was against PATransit policy to allow any employee to carry a firearm. I
remember Harold Geissenheimer did discuss that topic one time after
Division 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union put forth the idea of
operators and mechanics being allowed to carry guns. This was after scores
of operator assaults, myself being a victim included. Policy remained the
same.............no guns. The same is true at Greater Cleveland Regional
Transit Authority.........no guns. In Cleveland, even with a "permit to
carry", one was required to secure the weapon in your private vehicle
before coming into the station.

With individual states beginning to allow teachers and school personnel to
be armed, and given the American habit of "pushing the envelope", we may at
some point see some states allowing transit personnel to be armed. Transit
operator assaults are on the rise again all over North America and this
will play into any decision on armed transit personnel.

As for the newspaper article, it almost seems comic. The operator had time
to "hoist the front trolley pole" before the robber got from the rear of
the car to stop him? Please! People were easily convinced of anything back
in 1931.


On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 8:21 AM, Lattner, Raymond <rlattner at pa.gov> wrote:

> Ed, I guess you will probably be the only one who may be able to
> answer this, did the company actually ever arm PRCo operators?
>
> Anything in your files regarding this? Also, did PAT ever consider arming
> its operators? Are PAT employees allowed to carry if permitted?
>
> Any idea what kind of police force PRCo had?
>
> Thanks
>
> Ray
>
> Article dated October 1931.
>
>
>
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-- 
Herb Brannon
*In Pittsburgh...The Paris of
Appalachia<http://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/TheAppalachianRegion.asp>
*
Let's Go Bucs



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