[PRCo] PRCo Armed Motormen

[Herb Brannon]

Also, I might add, the type of "operator assault" going on these days is
not a simple slap or punch. The following link will take you to a Toronto
Star story and also video of an incident last Saturday on a Dundas trolley
in the middle of Toronto. Ah, the joy of modern streetcar travel. Parts of
the video indicate why both "transit police" and "rider awareness" are
necessary in all large cities today. TAKE NOTE: THE VIDEO EMBEDDED IN THIS
LINK IS GRAPHIC.
Toronto Star Article Trolley Incident <http://bit.ly/15hD7gp>
<http://bit.ly/15hD7gp>


On Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 9:34 AM, Herb Brannon <hrbran at cavtel.net> wrote:

> 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
>



-- 
Herb Brannon
*In Pittsburgh...The Paris of
Appalachia<http://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/TheAppalachianRegion.asp>
*
Let's Go Bucs



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