Two weeks after announcing the deployment of nearly 200 unarmed ambassadors Aboard its trains and buses, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced Monday that it has approved the hiring of 48 new traffic safety officers to bolster public safety.
The Metro Board’s decision to increase the number of traffic safety officers is part of efforts to advance its public safety plan, which calls for a multifaceted “human-centric” approach aimed at making the system safer.
In addition to new Metro staff, the agency is working with the City and County of Los Angeles to add outreach teams for homelessness, substance abuse, and crisis intervention, and improve the use of security cameras, lighting and more frequent cleaning of stations. and vehicles.
On the program, a group of ambassadors who will travel on board buses and trains to report on the problems that users face on a daily basis.
The board also approved new impartial public scrutiny and policing policies, including a revised code of conduct for customers, to ensure consistency with its public safety mission and the values espoused by the council in 2021, according to the agency.
“Certainly, the subway system is not immune to the broader societal challenges we see across our county, but we are steadfast in our commitment to take all necessary steps to promote a safe transit experience. and pleasant for each of our users,” said Arah. Najarian, chairman of Metro’s board of directors, in a statement.
Board approval of funding to hire more Metro Transit Safety Officers will create a permanent team of bus drivers who will be deployed to specific lines with a high frequency of public safety issues , with the primary purpose of deterring bus operator attacks and driving code violations.
According to Metro, these positions are in dire need as the agency reported 158 assaults on bus operators in 2022, compared to 115 in 2021.
“It’s important that we finally have a team of traffic safety officers dedicated to our buses and riding with our passengers on them,” County Supervisor Janice Hahn, second vice president of the Metro Board, said in a statement. communicated.
“Most regular subway users take the bus and deserve a safe and comfortable ride.”
At a Los Angeles subway station, authorities blast classical music as part of a crime-fighting program to deter those who would otherwise sleep in the station.
According to the transit agency, Metro’s new Unbiased Policing and Public Safety Analysis policies aim to set clear expectations and standards to help Metro eliminate potential biases in how the transit system public transport is patrolled. .
Previously, Metro found evidence to suggest racial bias may have been a factor in citations issued to passengers.
“These policies set clear expectations and standards for fair and impartial policing and reinforce the importance of treating all people with respect and dignity,” said Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, senior vice president of Metro, in a statement. communicated.
Finally, the board approved a revised Metro Code of Conduct that uses clearer, more user-friendly language. Metro also removed elements already covered by the existing penal code.
“All of these initiatives build on the work we’ve done over the past year to put our public safety plan in place,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement.
“This plan utilizes proactive response, strategic application and fair application, and is essential to maintaining the public safety of our customers.”
“We know we have a lot of work to do, but we are clearly moving in the right direction,” he continued.