NJ Transit expands conflict de-escalation training for front-line employees

NEWARK, NJ — NJ Transit is expanding its de-escalation training for front-line employees to include curriculum from Rutgers’ National Transit Institute. The NTI presented a “Train the Trainers” program on conflict de-escalation techniques for bus and rail operations, and New Jersey Transit Police. These highly effective techniques will be incorporated into existing internal NJ Transit de-escalation training programs to create a set of best practices for use in real-world situations, according to a press release from NJ Transit.

“This new de-escalation training demonstrates our commitment to our front-line employees and to their safety,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett said. “We owe it to them to be vigilant about safety because — as a lifelong transit rider — I know how critically important their work is to all our customers. We want to ensure that all our riders, as well as our employees, get home safely at the end of their day.”

“One of our main missions as a police department is promoting the safety of our customers and crews, and this expansion of our de-escalation training fits squarely in that space,” NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo said. “It is always preferable to have situations managed before it rises to the level of police involvement.”

“The best way to help employees at risk of on-the-job assaults is to help them prevent the assault in the first place,” NJ Transit employee court advocate Michael Rubin said. “With this expanded training program our bus operators, conductors, police and other customer-facing employees will have additional tools at hand to de-escalate situations and protect themselves and their customers from possible assaults.”

All of NJ Transit’s employees who work with the public on buses, trains or as police officers receive training on how to manage difficult situations to minimize the possibility of violence. With the assistance of NTI, the trainings will be more robust and help to reduce assaults on bus operators, conductors, police and other personnel.

“The ATU is pleased that NJ Transit is utilizing these national resources to advance our common goal of reducing assaults on bus operators,” Amalgamated Transit Union–NJ State Council Chairman Ray Greaves said.

“Smart-TD Local 60 applauds NJ Transit’s efforts in protecting our front-line employees from assaults. NTI’s de-escalation training is a great step in the right direction,” said Jerome Johnson, general chairman, president and alternate delegate for Smart-TD Local 60. “We look forward to collaborating further with NJ Transit to reduce assaults and provide training for our brothers and sisters in conflict avoidance.”

  NJ Transit