Emergency Response: Roles and Responsibilities

• These notes cover procedures and definitions for supervisory officers, incident commanders, and TTC emergencies.

Supervisory Officer Responsibilities

• Upon arrival at an incident requiring ETF attendance, a supervisory officer must obtain information from the first officer, assess the situation, assume the role of Incident Commander, expand the Incident Management System (IMS) if required, and assess safety of civilians and officers.

Officer in Charge Responsibilities

• When aware of an incident requiring ETF attendance, the Officer in Charge must ensure particulars are recorded in the Unit Commanders Morning Report (UCMR).

Incident Commander Responsibilities

• Upon arrival at an incident requiring ETF attendance, the Incident Commander must coordinate and manage the police response, excluding ETF tactical operations.
• The Supervisory Officer - ETF assumes Tactical Commander duties until relieved by the Unit Commander, responsible for all tactical response aspects.
• The Incident Commander must ensure suspect isolation/containment, detective office personnel attendance, and consideration of a separate radio frequency.

Supervisory Officer - Specialized Emergency Response – Emergency Task Force (ETF) Responsibilities

• Upon arriving at an incident, a Supervisory Officer needs to obtain information from first officer/supervisory officer, ensure priority response member notification, and assume ETF Tactical Commander role.
• Responsibilities include coordinating tactical response, ensuring assignment of a police officer to the command post with an ETF radio for communication liaison.
• The officer must also assess and consider the safety of civilians/officers throughout the incident.

Definitions

• ETF Tactical Commander: A member of Specialized Emergency Response - Emergency Task Force (ETF) with specific incident command training.
• Scene: The entire incident area, including inner and outer perimeters.
• Terrorism: Criminal use of violence, intimidation, coercion, or threat to influence behavior.

Emergencies and Pursuits on TTC Property: Rationale

• Responding to events at track level is hazardous due to high voltage rails.
• High voltage rails are in subway lines, TTC service yards, storage yards, and streetcar tunnels.
• Officers must contact Transit Control Centre to cut power before entering track level.
• Officers must always treat power rails as live.

Potential Hazards

• Subway/SRT systems have metal debris which is a risk due to diminished lighting, and can be used as weapons by suspects.
• Automated directional switch plates are hazardous; caution is needed when crossing.

Supervision Protocol

• Supervisory Officer notification/attendance is mandatory for all track level events.
• Divisional Officer in Charge must be notified if a supervisor attends a track level event.

TTC Special Constables

• TTC Security officers are special constables with authority to lay charges/make arrests on TTC property under specific conditions.
• All arrests/investigations of dual procedure or indictable offenses must be reported to TPS.
• If a police officer attends, special constables apprise them of the situation and follow their directions.
• If no police officer is present, the special constable contacts Communications Services (COM) for notification.
• Police officers holds a higher authority over special constables in all incidents.

Surface Vehicles - Alarms

• TTC vehicles have driver-activated alarms for on-board emergencies.
• Streetcar: stop lights flash, horn sounds continuously.
• Light Rail Vehicle: four-way lights flash, pulsating electronic tone sounds
• Bus: four-way lights flash, horn sounds continuously
• All TTC surface vehicles have alarm and communication capabilities linked to Transit Control.

TTC Subway Communications System

• System facilitates radio contact between Communications Services and officers inside TTC.
• Channel access is available on operational trunked channels.
• B-CONV-7 and B-CONV-8 are backup radio channels in case of trunk radio system failure.

Subway and SRT Emergency Procedures

• Pursuit of suspects at track level is hazardous and should only occur if absolutely necessary.
• The subway system track level has a high voltage "third rail". The SRT track level has "third rail" and "fourth rail".
• Contact with power rails is usually fatal.
• Officers must contact Transit Control Centre before entering track level.
• Officers ensure all persons have been accounted for before power is restored.

Emergency Power Cut Cabinets

• Located at both ends of the subway/SRT platforms are Emergency Power Cut Cabinets.
• Each cabinet has a TTC internal telephone and an emergency Power Cut Device.
• Even after power is cut, trains may continue to coast; caution is advised.

Escape Routes

• Escape tunnels are accessible within the tunnels, identified by illuminated signs.
• The Transit Control Centre is immediately notified when an exit door is opened.

Subway/SRT On-Board Emergencies

• Subway trains are controlled by a driver and a guard (door operator), and SRT trains are controlled only by a driver.
• All trains have Passenger Assistance Alarm Strips, triggering alarms in the car, driver’s and guard’s cabs and exterior lights.
• Water should not be used on electrical fires unless power is OFF.
• Red handled Emergency Stop Device is at the end of trains in the driver's cab, which are used tp stop the train.
• Trains should not be stopped between stations except in extreme emergencies.
• An Emergency Door Opening Device is located above the doors at the end.

Police Officer Actions

• Prior to entering the subway, officers must contact the divisional communications operator.
• Once inside the subway, officers must re-establish contact with the communications operator.
• Upon arrival, officer must advise the collector in booth because staff entrances are under CCTV surveillance.
• Upon hearing Code 117, a TTC summon, officer must contact the Transit Control Centre.
• Cut the power at Emergency Power Cut Cabinet
  • call Transit Control Centre (3555 for subway, 3777 for SRT)
    • identify self
    • give reason for power cut
    • provide a description of the suspect
    • request TTC Special Constables/supervisory personnel
• Maintain contact with Transit Control Centre, notify supervisory officer, and update the communications operator.
• Wait for Transit Control Centre to indicate power is OFF before entering track level.

Track Level Procedures

• Officers only descend onto track level as last resort and do not respond on their own without TTC assistance.
• When assistance arrives, designate an officer maintain telephone contact with Transit Control Centre
• Descend to track level, proceed with caution.
• When crossing power rails, step over them or onto yellow reinforced cover boards.
• Use designated walkways on SRT line.
• Always treat power rail as if it were live.
• Cut power trips at each blue light Emergency Power Cut Cabinet.
• Move through the tunnel on the raised catwalk.
• The catwalk is a safe area unless marked non-clearance by diagonal yellow stripes.
• Secure equipment/clothing to prevent tunnel wind from catching them.

Stopping a Train

• Necessary only, signal to the train driver.
• The driver will give one short blast of the horn.
• Explain to the driver why the signal to stop was given.
• When arriving at the station to which the suspect is fleeing.
• Proceed to platform level, cut the power at the blue light Emergency Power Cut Cabinet
• Officers dispatched to a station to which the suspect is fleeing will NOT conduct a track level search.
• Notify Transit Control Centre, update the communications operator.
• Prior to the power being restored, liaise with TTC supervisor to ensure no persons remains.
• Communicate with the train crew to determine location and the nature of the problem.
• Follow the posted instructions when proceeding between subway/SRT cars
• If required, TTC train crew can provide a radio telephone to contact the Transit Control Centre/public address system.

Supervisory Officer (Track Level)

• The officer must attend the scene and provide appropriate direction for all track level events.