In this week's Ask a Muni Security Guy, we wonder just who is that bald security dude? The answer will surprise you. And as always, we have answers to last weeks questions. Remember, if you have a question that you want answered, either email us at editor@sfist.com or post it in the comment thread.

what i want to know is who the bald security guy is and his female coworker. they are EVERYWHERE! seriously, those two must be cloned for the number of times i see them

Which bald guy? we have a few. fortunately, they are all good. Thanks for the observation and comment on them.

I have an observation and question for the Muni security guy:

I was on the Van Ness platform, and two fare inspectors were on the platform talking and laughing while myself and other passengers exited and entered trains. Not once did they ask anyone for their POP, and instead were deep into a conversation in the middle of a briskly active platform.

When I arrived at Powell station, I headed up stairs and was asked for my POP by an inspector. Confused, I politely asked him why he asked me, but the two jokers at Van Ness ignored me. His reply was that those guys likely were waiting for a specific train they worked.

It seems to me that it is a waste of time to have inspectors just standing around the platform waiting while on the payroll, when they could check POP while they waited for their train.
Is this a union rules thing, or am I missing something here?

You are right. Due to complaints by their union (shop steward in particular - a fellow fare inspector) and the subsequent agreement made, pair of inspectors #1 are working (we'll say, the J line). Pair #1 enter at Van Ness and we know all lines run through Van Ness. They are to NOT do anything else until they get on a J line train. Stupid? Yes! This was mostly due to the complaint that other pairs of inspectors are "taking away their stats". Stats meaning contacts, warnings and citation issuance rates. I.E. they argued this because other inspector pairings made them look bad by their rates of contacts, warnings given and citations issued.

Please complain to management about this. We, as supervisors, had no say in the agreement made by the union and our higher ups (management).

Isn't the bald pop officer a female???

Yes, we have one bald female inspector.

I had an experience just like Mark's -- I traveled from Castro to Powell last Sunday afternoon, and there were lots of guys in security vests just sitting at both stations. In fact, the ones at Castro were trying to flirt with an uncomfortable Italian tourist -- it wasn't pleasant.

Vests? I think those were MTAP personnel or our people for the All Star event (but they were more downtown and at the ballpark). MTAP vests read MTAP and/or Security while ours are "Fare Inspector". Complain, please!

The bald officer is female. She pulled myself and my four year old daughter off the train today because I didn't have my POP. I told her to get on the N Judah safely at my stop in the outer sunset, I have to board the second car. The first car stops out in the middle of traffic, and it's not a risk I want to take with my kid. The second car has no driver, and the window is closed so you can't pay your fare even if you wanted to. I had my fare in my hand, and showed it to her. I explained if she wanted to write me a citation for this purpose, go right ahead. I had no problem with that.

She gave me a lecture about my "anger issues." Then told me that she had to go and deal with a "life threatening issue." Thus, she wasn't going to cite me this time. But rest assured, she'll do it the next time. She still stuck around and lectured me about all the many ways I could have "not risked breaking the law" and paid my fare. (I guess the life threatening issue was able to wait a few more minutes.) I told her thank you, and that I respected her job.
She also kept talking to my kid about how "scary it is" to be taken off the train like that. Nice. Luckily, my kid wasn't phased. She just wanted to know why SHE was angry.

Well, first cars have the operator and thus, the open fare box. Second cars do not. Policy is if you do not have prior POP, enter the first car and obtain it. In your case and due to safety of your child - at the next stop, get off the second car at the front and board the first at the rear door, walk up and get your POP. The inspector could have cited you both but didn't. Take it in stride.

When will the fare inspectors ride the buses?? They are needed the most on buses!

I agree. Due to politics, it's not going to be in the near future.