Los Angeles Mayor Mandates Increase in Law Enforcement for City’s Transit System Amidst Rising Crime Rates
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has propelled a change in approach by ordering more law enforcement presence in the city’s public transport network following a surge in violent crime incidents, despite previous resistance from the Metro board. The decision comes in response to a spate of attacks, including fatal stabbings, prompting a proposal for increased patrols, better communication systems, and additional security measures. Critics argue the cost and efficiency of this strategy, while Metro aims to enhance safety measures in parallel with expansion plans amidst growing crime rates.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has mandated an increase in law enforcement within the city’s transit system in response to a recent surge in violent crime incidents. This marks a shift for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), which had previously resisted augmenting police presence to mitigate drug use, crime, and disruptive behaviors. Mayor Bass, who chairs the Metro board, expressed the urgency of addressing safety concerns after a series of violent attacks, including three stabbings earlier this week and the fatal stabbing of Mirna Soza, 66, last month.
The proposal stipulates that law enforcement officers will actively patrol rail cars and buses, enhance communication infrastructure to allow for crime reporting, and fill service gaps during shift changes. However, critics argue that increasing police presence is costly and has not proven effective historically. Currently, around 600 uniformed officers from various local police departments and 200 transit security officers are tasked with patrolling the system.
Metro’s safety efforts are occurring alongside ambitious expansion plans, with environmental clearances expected for light rail line extensions to Torrance and Whittier. Despite these efforts, Metro’s increasing crime rates threaten to impact ridership goals, and the board is considering additional security measures, such as facial recognition technology and secure station gates, to bolster system safety ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
