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About Us:
My name is Chris Carson. I was an officer with the MTA Transit Police from 1995
through the shutdown of the Department in November of 1997. I was hired in
January of 1995 and after going through some brief training, I was immediately
placed into the Field Training Officer (FTO) program, since I had already
graduated from the Fullerton College Basic Police Academy.
During my time there, I made a lot of friends and had some good times and
adventures. I found the transit systems in many ways to be thrilling places to work.
The hustle and bustle and constant movement meant that we wouldn't be bored
for very long. Like many other officers, I also liked the fact that our jurisdiction was
so large, and the variety of not only places we could work, but situations we could
run into to be almost endless.
My name is Chris Carson. I was an officer with the MTA Transit Police from 1995
through the shutdown of the Department in November of 1997. I was hired in
January of 1995 and after going through some brief training, I was immediately
placed into the Field Training Officer (FTO) program, since I had already
graduated from the Fullerton College Basic Police Academy.
During my time there, I made a lot of friends and had some good times and
adventures. I found the transit systems in many ways to be thrilling places to work.
The hustle and bustle and constant movement meant that we wouldn't be bored
for very long. Like many other officers, I also liked the fact that our jurisdiction was
so large, and the variety of not only places we could work, but situations we could
run into to be almost endless.
There were many things about us that made us unique. At first glance, the fact that we had a female Chief of Police, Sharon Papa would
stand out to most observers. Sharon had come to us in the early 1980's when the Department could be measured in the dozens, not the
hundreds and though today we might take a woman as a police chief nonchalantly, for the late 1980's when she was appointed, this was a
very big deal.
Another thing that made us unique as a police agency was the fact we were specialized. We were very closely mission focused on the transit
systems in Los Angeles. It is difficult for a general law enforcement agency to grasp the specialized mission concept. We found that this was
sometimes difficult to explain to other law enforcement officers, since they didn't sometimes think or see things the same ways we did.
We were also hired under different criteria than other law enforcement agencies. Our people were specifically screened not only so that they
could better relate to people, since we spent literally all day long surrounded by people, but also so that they could think on their feet and
make independent decisions since in many cases we were spread out and back up or supervision might be some time away.
Other traits we usually developed on the job, were flexibility and thoroughness. There were a couple reasons for this. Since we generally
worked with other police departments, we had to develop the ability within ourselves to adapt to other different departments ways of doing
business, whether in a different arrest and booking process, different ways of taking and filing police reports, etc. The thoroughness portion
came in as part of this, since sometimes when working with other police departments, we desired to do whatever the task well, to be looked at
as equals and competent with our peers at other police departments.
The job could also be challenging since many of our assignments were foot-beat based details. Having been a city police reserve officer prior,
I found this to be a great way to do police work, since it hearkened back to the old days when most policemen were footbeat officers, which
meant by default that you'd learn a lot not only about the place you worked, but the people you served as well. It also toughened me up some,
since most of the time it meant walking for several hours per day, and the police work could be pretty gritty at times occasionally taking us into
the side streets and back alleys of Los Angeles.
My assignments included Bus Operations Bureau, Miracle On Broadway (MOB), Rail Operations Bureau (Green Line and Blue Line) and I
returned to Bus Operations for approximately the last 1-2 months prior to the shutdown. I also occasionally worked on the Red Line.
We were a very diverse police department with a high percentage of officers from differing races and backgrounds. Among our ranks we also
had officers that had come to us from all branches of the military and some officers that came from other police departments, sheriff's
departments and even state corrections.
All told, we had over four hundred transit police officers and several dozen transit security officers along with some civilian staff.
I also discovered the secret that all true transit police officers know.
Because of these facts, I still treasure my times at the MTA Transit Police and found it to be a rewarding police assignment. I also know that
the framework exists for the Department to return and for it to be a great place to work, along with rendering a valuable service to the people
of Los Angeles' transit community.
Please contact me at the email address below if you have questions or if I can be of assistance:
stand out to most observers. Sharon had come to us in the early 1980's when the Department could be measured in the dozens, not the
hundreds and though today we might take a woman as a police chief nonchalantly, for the late 1980's when she was appointed, this was a
very big deal.
Another thing that made us unique as a police agency was the fact we were specialized. We were very closely mission focused on the transit
systems in Los Angeles. It is difficult for a general law enforcement agency to grasp the specialized mission concept. We found that this was
sometimes difficult to explain to other law enforcement officers, since they didn't sometimes think or see things the same ways we did.
We were also hired under different criteria than other law enforcement agencies. Our people were specifically screened not only so that they
could better relate to people, since we spent literally all day long surrounded by people, but also so that they could think on their feet and
make independent decisions since in many cases we were spread out and back up or supervision might be some time away.
Other traits we usually developed on the job, were flexibility and thoroughness. There were a couple reasons for this. Since we generally
worked with other police departments, we had to develop the ability within ourselves to adapt to other different departments ways of doing
business, whether in a different arrest and booking process, different ways of taking and filing police reports, etc. The thoroughness portion
came in as part of this, since sometimes when working with other police departments, we desired to do whatever the task well, to be looked at
as equals and competent with our peers at other police departments.
The job could also be challenging since many of our assignments were foot-beat based details. Having been a city police reserve officer prior,
I found this to be a great way to do police work, since it hearkened back to the old days when most policemen were footbeat officers, which
meant by default that you'd learn a lot not only about the place you worked, but the people you served as well. It also toughened me up some,
since most of the time it meant walking for several hours per day, and the police work could be pretty gritty at times occasionally taking us into
the side streets and back alleys of Los Angeles.
My assignments included Bus Operations Bureau, Miracle On Broadway (MOB), Rail Operations Bureau (Green Line and Blue Line) and I
returned to Bus Operations for approximately the last 1-2 months prior to the shutdown. I also occasionally worked on the Red Line.
We were a very diverse police department with a high percentage of officers from differing races and backgrounds. Among our ranks we also
had officers that had come to us from all branches of the military and some officers that came from other police departments, sheriff's
departments and even state corrections.
All told, we had over four hundred transit police officers and several dozen transit security officers along with some civilian staff.
I also discovered the secret that all true transit police officers know.
Because of these facts, I still treasure my times at the MTA Transit Police and found it to be a rewarding police assignment. I also know that
the framework exists for the Department to return and for it to be a great place to work, along with rendering a valuable service to the people
of Los Angeles' transit community.
Please contact me at the email address below if you have questions or if I can be of assistance: