Bass calls for more law enforcement on Metro amid 'unacceptable' spike in violence on trains, buses

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Responding to a recent violent attacks tied to the region's transit system, Los Angeles Mayor Bass said Thursday she has ordered an "immediate surge" in public safety personnel on buses and trains to increase their visibility and deter crime.

"The spike in violent crime on Metro that we have recently seen against operators and riders has been absolutely unacceptable," Bass, who is also chair of Metro's board of directors, said at a Thursday morning news conference. "And I know that all of my colleagues here today would agree."

Bass told reporters that on Wednesday she directed "an immediate surge of law enforcement personnel on Metro buses and rail cars and stations. Today, we are following that action with a motion to work to make Angelenos, our riders and our operators feel safe on the system."

Bass said that motion will "increase the daily planned deployment of public safety personnel on Metro and direct public safety personnel to be physically present on buses and trains and proactively patrol areas as well."

The motion will also call for establishment of a "unified command" of the various law enforcement agencies who police the system -- including Metro security, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Long Beach Police Department.

It will also require that "cellular service is enabled and working in all underground Metro rail stations, on the platforms and during transit throughout the rail system," Bass said. "The importance of this is so passengers, if they need to, get help immediately."

The moves follow a spate of violent crimes connected to the system in recent weeks, including the fatal stabbing of a woman on a B Line train in the Studio City area last month and a trio of attacks this week that left three people stabbed and another struck in the chest during a robbery.

2 suspects in custody after reportedly jumping on train car at Metro station in DTLA

Two people were taken into custody Thursday morning after police responded to a disturbance at a Metro train station in downtown Los Angeles.

Metro riders tell Eyewitness News feeling safe on trains and buses should be a guarantee.

"I think everybody should be able to get home and work safely by just taking public transportation. People should be able to do their job properly instead of feeling afraid to do anything," said Danny, a Metro rider.

The motion calling for increased law enforcement visibility on Metro will be put forward at the next board meeting on May 23. Metro would pay for the extra officers, which would likely come from the three law enforcement agencies Metro contracts with.

County Supervisor Janice Hahn, vice-chair of the Metro Board, said Thursday alongside Bass that law enforcement visibility has to be increased to make people feel safe on the system.

"We have the responsibility to every single one of our riders and our bus operators and our train operators to make the Metro safe, and part of the solution, I believe, has to be increasing law enforcement visibility and presence on our system," she said.

In Metro's 3rd violent attack this week, suspect arrested for Encino bus robbery

There have been at least two stabbings and a violent robbery on the Metro system since Monday.

"We need law enforcement riding our buses and our trains," she said. "It does not do our riders any good if officers remain in their squad cars."

It was unclear how much the law enforcement increase being sought by the board members would cost the transit agency.

City News Service contributed to this report.