CTA Riders Encouraged to Give Seats Up for Elderly or Pregnant SWAT Officers

By Holly Clark

CHICAGO, IL - Last Friday, additional police resources were deployed to CTA stations, including SWAT officers. This has led the CTA to enhance their Rules of Conduct to ensure everyone, including pregnant or elderly SWAT officers, has safe and pleasant trips. 

“We encourage everybody to be a good neighbor to those they share their journey with daily,” said CTA spokesman Max Beckman. “That includes giving  up your seat to SWAT team members who may have trouble standing on their own, they’re there for your protection.” 

Other enhancements to the CTA Rules of Conduct designed to facilitate easy and respectful travel for both SWAT teams and pedestrians include:

• Submachine guns, sniper rifles, assault weapons, and concussion grenades should be kept on your lap or between your feet on buses and trains to avoid blocking aisles.

• Take everything you brought on board with you when you leave (including  riot gear and executed/unexecuted search warrants).

• Be mindful of others when conducting hostage negotiations on your phone or using electronics which others may hear (including tactical raid alert signaling devices). If you’re diffusing violent situations by text message, turn your ringer down or put your phone on vibrate.

• SWAT team members who sing, dance, play musical instruments, paint, juggle, rap, recite or orate – are welcome to perform on CTA either individually or as a group, so long as they are in possession of a valid CTA Performer’s Permit

While the decision to even let SWAT teams into trains and stations has been met with controversy, Mia Larkin, ACLU spokesperson and Chicago resident, defended it, stating, “It makes sense to have SWAT on trains because the intent is for teams to be able to react quickly. Like train schedules, violent criminals are erratic and unpredictable. It’s important to develop new regulations that help SWAT team members protect, and interact with pedestrians as easily as possible.”

At press time, a pregnant SWAT team member had no trouble finding a seat, as every pedestrian moved to the other side of the train the moment she entered.