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MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham to Testify on Transit Security before Congressional Committee, July 12
MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham will provide expert testimony on transit security during the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security Hearing at 2:00 p.m. on July 12, 2011. Chief Dunham was invited by the Committee to join transportation professionals from the freight rail, pipeline and trucking industries to detail their experiences and offer recommendations on surface transportation security. Chief Dunham’s testimony will provide the Committee with crucial information on current successes and future needs as the U.S. Congress prepares to consider reauthorization of the Homeland Security program.
A copy of Chief Dunham’s testimony will be distributed following the Committee meeting.
“I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to testify before this Committee and offer MARTA’s perspective on the state of transit security,” said MARTA Police Chief Wanda Dunham. “Thanks to the federal government’s invaluable support, we are able to effectively secure our nation’s public transportation systems. I look forward to continuing our work together to maintain and expand these initiatives so that we remain one step ahead of the ever-evolving threats to our national security.”
As the ninth largest transit property in the country, MARTA is designated a Tier One Homeland Security facility and receives federal assistance to ensure the safety of the system and the region. In partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the MARTA Police Department (MPD) operates an extremely robust homeland security program that includes specialized equipment, technology and canine teams. MPD regularly contributes these resources to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department has participated in national events such as the 2009 Presidential Inauguration and often helps local police departments to investigate reports of suspicious items.
MPD is a full-service police agency comprised of 393 sworn officers and civilian employees and is one of only four transit police agencies in the U.S. to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). |