Hundreds of tax cab and bus drivers will soon join forces in a new roving neighborhood watch program dubbed “Taxis on Patrol” that Nassau County police rolled out Thursday.
The Taxicab, Limousine, Paratransit Association’s 39 private taxi companies will provide police with more eyes and ears on the streets under the program, along with NICE bus drivers. Participants will undergo training and receive crime prevention notifications through the Security/Police Information Network, a crime-prevention partnership between cops and select businesses.
“We don’t want vigilante cab drivers, we are looking for them to be an extension of information,” said Chief of Department Steven Skrynecki.
Under the hour-long training program, drivers will learn what suspicious behavior to look for, how to report it and what is the best way to keep themselves and their passengers safe. The police department is working with eCubed Learning, an online university that is developing the training with the TLPA. Companies pay $5 for each driver to take the online course.
Skrynecki pointed to results a similar Taxi on Patrol program had in Denver area. Within four months of its implementation, 65 crimes had been reported to Denver police by taxi drivers, he said.
Drivers participating in the program will have a Taxi on Patrol Nassau County Police sticker on their cab. Skrynecki noted the sticker should help deter crime against cabbies because of the direct connection the taxi driver has with police.
Being part of SPIN, taxi drivers are alerted in real-time of crimes so they will know a potential suspect may try to use their services as a getaway vehicle. The network additionally sends out wanted posters, so cabbies can also help keep an eye out for fugitives.
The sticker will also allow police to briefly and randomly stop and search taxis. Nassau County taxis charge by distance, not time, so passengers do not have to worry about their fares increasing.
All Island Transportation and Long Island Checker Cab are two local taxi companies that have already begun to apply the program.
“We are utilizing an untapped resource by partnering with taxi drivers on our streets—best yet, it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime,” County Executive Edward Mangano said.
