New security measures added to Los Angeles Metro system

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- New security measures are going into place to help keep passengers safe on Los Angeles' Metro system.

SkyWatch is a security office on a hydraulic lift that can be raised 24 feet into the air. It can monitor and record any activity surrounding Metro rail stations.

Although security cameras have been on light-rail cars and buses for years, Metro is now adding a new feature to their security system called LexRay. It will give law enforcement the ability to capture video from the security cameras in real time on their smartphones or tablets.

"Now we are able to access camera feeds from the field. It's a great officer safety aspect and to solve crimes," said Chief Ronene Anda with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Transit Police Division.

"These new technologies that we are unveiling today provide more for safety and our passengers and employees, and they help us also defeat crime and anyone who wants to harm the system through crime," said Metro CEO Phillip Washington.

Metro officials say while crime is not high throughout the Metro system, mass transit is rapidly expanding, and they want to make sure crime does not expand with it.

"It's a great idea because there's a lot of stuff going on on the Metro," said Maria Cervantes a Metro rail rider. "My granddaughter's chain was taken off her neck just at random several months ago."

Metro says law enforcement will still patrol stations, but the extra security gives them an extra layer of eyes monitoring the system and not only on the ground but from above.

Some riders say they're a bit concerned about feeling like they are constantly being watched.

"Don't necessarily want to have that George Orwellian big brother looking over your shoulder sort of thing, but the bottom line is I like safety, I travel all over the country, and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing," said Damian Rohde, a Metro rail rider.