FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2022
MARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECEIVES TSA GOLD STANDARD AWARD
ATLANTA – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department (MPD) has received the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Gold Standard Award for its security program. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and TSA presented the award to MARTA
Police Chief Scott Kreher and his department at a MARTA board committee meeting on Thursday, April 28. The award recognizes excellence in MPD’s security plan and security training, drills and exercise programs, public outreach efforts, and background checks.
“I am proud to accept this award alongside the dedicated officers in the MARTA Police Department,” said Chief Kreher. “In particular, MPD’s Emergency Preparedness Unit has worked to ensure that MARTA is a safe, secure transit system and that officers are trained and well-prepared to handle all types of
emergencies.”
The Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement (BASE) Program is a voluntary security assessment of mass transit and passenger rail systems performed by TSA transportation security inspectors. The Gold Standard Award is the top recognition the TSA gives to a transit agency for achieving the highest scores
on its BASE review that evaluates 17 categories of security and emergency preparedness action items identified as fundamentals for a sound transit security program.
The BASE Program was developed to increase domain awareness, enhance prevention and protection capabilities and further response preparedness of transit systems nationwide. BASE is aimed at meeting the requirements in the 9/11 Commission Act’s security assessment section that directs the TSA to identify critical
assets, infrastructure systems and their vulnerabilities, as well as assist public transportation authorities to address their security programs.
