WASHINGTON — A coordinated response between the Amtrak Police Department and National Guard members supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission led to the swift identification of a shoplifting suspect at Union Station on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2025. The incident began when Amtrak Police received a report of a shoplifting in progress at a Walgreens located in the station’s food court. Store employees reported that an individual wearing a red hoodie and gray jacket had taken merchandise and fled toward the Metro gates. At the time, National Guard members assigned to Joint Task Force–District of Columbia were conducting visible presence patrols at Union Station as part of ongoing efforts to support public safety at critical transportation hubs during the holiday period. Guardsmen assisted Amtrak Police by maintaining situational awareness and helping canvass the area. U.S. Army Spc. Colby York, an Oklahoma National Guard Soldier supporting operations at Union Station, observed an individual matching the suspect’s description while on patrol. “I immediately radioed that I had identified a subject matching the description and requested Amtrak Police assistance,” York said. Amtrak Police officers responded and made contact with the individual. According to Officer Whylie, officers recovered the stolen items and conducted a background check through the Washington Area Law Enforcement System via Amtrak’s National Communication Center. The individual had no outstanding warrants. Store management elected not to pursue charges and requested that the individual be barred from the premises. The incident reflects the whole-of-government approach central to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, which emphasizes deterrence through presence, rapid information sharing, and coordination among federal, state, and local partners to support public safety in high-traffic public spaces. “Cooperation between Amtrak Police and the National Guard was crucial in this case,” York said. “The additional personnel and shared situational awareness allowed for a timely, coordinated response while ensuring each agency operated within its respective authority.” Joint Task Force–District of Columbia continues to support public safety across the National Capital Region by safeguarding key infrastructure, assisting law enforcement partners, and reinforcing community confidence through disciplined, professional service—advancing broader national priorities of homeland security, interagency cooperation, and the protection of public spaces.
| Date Taken: | 01.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.12.2026 17:03 |
| Story ID: | 556073 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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