Amid surge in violence, LA Metro votes to create its own police force for transit system
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Metro board voted Thursday to create a separate police force for the transit system.
This comes amid a surge in violence - in some cases deadly - on Metro trains, buses, and at stations.
Metro has already taken several immediate steps, including an increased presence by LAPD and other law enforcement agencies. Other steps underway include better lighting and upgrades to video surveillance systems.
Creating a standalone police force just for Metro is a long-term project: It will happen over a five year phased transition.
The transit system is currently policed under contract arrangement with three outside law enforcement agencies - the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Long Beach Police Department.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was among some local officials who supported the idea of creating a Metro force. Others expressed concerns in how long it might take to implement and the costs.
Sheriff Robert Luna noted it takes three years to get a new deputy recruited, trained and hired.
He noted that Los Angeles will be expecting big influxes of visitors in the next few years, such as the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics and the 2027 Super Bowl.
"This is not a time to experiment with new projects," Luna said. "Public safety is too critical to do that with."
