FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/17/2009) Bombing sniffing dogs were brought in to check the luggage at the Amtrak Train Station and officers to patrol the downtown MATA bus station.
As many as 25,000 people come through the MATA station everyday and Tuesday there were a few more eyes watching over them.
Along with the TSA agents, Memphis police, Federal Air Marshals, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Police and MATA police were at the downtown station.
They were all making their presence known and looking for anything out of the ordinary . "We normally have supervisors, but don't have enough to cover the some 42,000 rides," Alvin Pearson with MATA
It was all part of the TSA's VIPR or Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Operation.
The idea, is to be a visible deterrent to crime and conduct random searches.
Buses at the greyhound station downtown were also given the once over.
The TSA says VIPR teams will be used as needed to keep the country's transportation systems safe and secure.
"And you understand Memphis is a major transportation hub of our country. We got the biggest cargo airport in the world, we have of the 6 major class one railroads here and we are the 4th largest inland port and major interstate trucking hub," said Kevin McCarthy with the TSA.
Bus riders weren't sure what all the extra security was about today, but say crime, even threats of terrorism are a concern.
They say it makes this makes them feel safer.
"It makes a lot sense. We got terrorists everywhere," said one female passenger.
The TSA is conducting thousands of operations like this across the country. Agents say they'll be doing it on increase basis and could even be back at the MATA station tomorrow.
The Aviation Transportation Act passed after 9/11 gives the TSA the authority to police airports as well as other modes of transportation.
The VIPR team will be in Memphis a couple of days.
- Extra eyes at Memphis Transit Site in Memphis
- TSA VIPR team was at train and bus stations in Memphis
- The team was there as a visible deterrent to crime
(Memphis 11/17/2009) Bombing sniffing dogs were brought in to check the luggage at the Amtrak Train Station and officers to patrol the downtown MATA bus station.
As many as 25,000 people come through the MATA station everyday and Tuesday there were a few more eyes watching over them.
Along with the TSA agents, Memphis police, Federal Air Marshals, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Police and MATA police were at the downtown station.
They were all making their presence known and looking for anything out of the ordinary . "We normally have supervisors, but don't have enough to cover the some 42,000 rides," Alvin Pearson with MATA
It was all part of the TSA's VIPR or Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Operation.
The idea, is to be a visible deterrent to crime and conduct random searches.
Buses at the greyhound station downtown were also given the once over.
The TSA says VIPR teams will be used as needed to keep the country's transportation systems safe and secure.
"And you understand Memphis is a major transportation hub of our country. We got the biggest cargo airport in the world, we have of the 6 major class one railroads here and we are the 4th largest inland port and major interstate trucking hub," said Kevin McCarthy with the TSA.
Bus riders weren't sure what all the extra security was about today, but say crime, even threats of terrorism are a concern.
They say it makes this makes them feel safer.
"It makes a lot sense. We got terrorists everywhere," said one female passenger.
The TSA is conducting thousands of operations like this across the country. Agents say they'll be doing it on increase basis and could even be back at the MATA station tomorrow.
The Aviation Transportation Act passed after 9/11 gives the TSA the authority to police airports as well as other modes of transportation.
The VIPR team will be in Memphis a couple of days.
