LA Metro passengers concerned about rising crime, drug use and bus driver assaults will see mostly the status quo as far as policing the system, after the transit agency board on Thursday, March 23 extended law enforcement contracts for up to three more years.
One change, however, involved approval to hire 48 additional Metro Transit Security Officers to patrol high-crime bus routes and train stations in an effort to catch the criminals, deter crime and eventually bring back fearful riders to the sprawling public transit system with the goal of easing mind-numbing traffic on overburdened roads and freeways.
The vote came after considerable debate among Metro’s 13 board members, some who said new contracts with the three law enforcement agencies should wait until the board approves them at a future meeting. That motion was narrowly defeated.
The three agencies who currently patrol the seven rail lines, numerous train stations and 2,200 buses in Metro’s system will continue doing so within their jurisdictions. They are: Los Angeles Police Department, Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
While many board members agreed that these law enforcement departments needed to upgrade their performance, they voted to extend the contracts because they had no other choice.
“Crime is a problem. Perception of crime is a problem,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro board member Janice Hahn. “We are giving them another chance. Let’s start anew and have these three agencies work for our ridership.”
Serious crime on trains, buses and at stations has risen 24% in 2022 over the year prior. The transit agency also experienced a 99% increase in year-over-year complaints of passengers possessing or using illegal drugs. Crime on the rail system increased 25% in January 2023 over the prior year, Metro reported.
County Supervisor and board member Kathryn Barger said constituent emails and phone calls talk of fear of…
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