Intelligence Unit

The MBTA is the nation′s fifth largest public transportation system and transports well over one million passengers daily. To support the MBTA Transit Police Department in the fight against terrorism and to protect the system and keep the ridership safe; the MBTA Transit Police has a full time Intelligence Unit. The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit is responsible for coordinating the gathering, recording and sharing of intelligence information relating to terrorism that affects transit systems worldwide. The Unit disseminates regular intelligence alerts and bulletins which contain information on matters of interest to MBTA Transit Police personnel with regard to terrorism and transit security.

The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit works in conjunction with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, the US Attorney′s Office, the Commonwealth Fusion Center and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center and meets daily for intelligence sharing. Transit Police Detectives are assigned full time to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit utilizes a great number of sources at the federal, state and local levels to collect information on possible terrorism and significant incidents that occur on other transit systems. Additionally, the Intelligence Unit networks directly with various railroad law enforcement and transit system officials to share and record unusual occurrences that may relate to railroad infrastructures and transit systems nationwide.

The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit monitors security issues and suspicious activities that occur on all regional transit authorities within the Commonwealth. The Unit disseminates Intelligence Bulletins to these authorities in order to provide information relating to counter-terrorism preventative measures. The Unit also disseminates similar bulletins to the senior management staff at the MBTA and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR).

The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit also produces and distributes a weekly Intelligence Bulletin to all members of the MBTA Transit Police Department. This bulletin advises all sworn officers of recent worldwide transit terrorism related incidents and current threat levels. Additionally, the bulletin includes MBTA transit security related issues and crime trends. Furthermore, the bulletin is distributed outside the MBTA Transit Police Department to other law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

The MBTA Transit Police Intelligence Unit conducts background investigations on all vendors, performers, and other contracted personnel and/or guests.