Go West TransitSecurity, Category 1

Jude KiahGo West Transit, Director

Macomb, Illinois

Go West Transit

• Western Illinois University and the city of Macomb, IL

• Funded by students 5311, and state DOAP

Profiles

• Macomb, IL• 20,000 population• 70 miles from nearest

city of 100K or more• 32,000 county pop.• Heavy agricultural

base

• Western Illinois Univ.• Founded in 1899• 13,000 students• 11,000 in Macomb• 4,500 in residence

halls• 40% from Chicago • 60% no transit exp.

Then and now

1999• 3 buses

• 2 routes

• 6 employees

• (3 drivers)

• 150,000 riders

• $360,000 budget

• 10,000 riders a week

2011• 30 buses

• 14 routes

• 90 employees

• (62 drivers)

• 1.8 million riders

• 2.6 million dollar budget

• 53,000 riders a week

•Fall 2005 – Ridership spikes on Late Night route. Vandalism escalates. University investigates security options

•January 2006– Pilot program begins with one student on each bus. 12 students hired.

•August 2006 – First Security handbook published

•January 2007– Supervisor level created. Senior officers added.

•September 2009 – New late night route added – staff now at 17

•April 2011– Daytime security on school routes added

Security Timeline

Partners

City of Macomb – Funding Grantee

City police (Macomb PD)

County 911 center

Campus Police (OPS)

LEJA Department

Go West Transit

Synergies

• LEJA and Go West – provide partnership for high achieving students to gain experience.

• Police and Go West – reduce police need on streets – response to more pressing issues

• County 911 and Go West– 911 provides expedited protocol for

• City and Go West – Reduced vandalism, DUI, violence

Go West Security

• 17 employees

• Para-police (LEJA students)

• Recommendation only

• Expedited protocol with 911 center

• Police response

• CurricularTraining

Para – police training

• Incident writing

• Verbal Judo

• FTO and probation periods

• Nightly evaluation procedures

• After – action review

• Peer hiring and promotion

Where are we going?

• Better technology– Cameras

• Evolving Officer outfitting – Equipment

– Uniform (badging)

• Mandatory monthly training

Partnering

• Trust is developed by small wins.

• You won’t always agree.

• Find mutual goals.

• Celebrate the wins.

• Continue to find what will work and treat your partnership with care.