Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JUNE 15, 2023
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS NAJARIAN, SANDOVAL, BUTTS, BARGER, AND BASS
In-House Public Safety Implementation Plan Motion
Prior to 1996, the RTD, and later the LACMTA, had in-house police directly supervised by transit professionals sensitive to, and immersed in, transit culture. Other police agencies have not had that immersion. Because many of the RTD and MTA transit police were former bus operators and supervisors, they had a superior understanding of how the system works and could better aid passengers in emergencies or major service interruptions. The transit police worked closely with graffiti and vandalism programs. They participated in agency events, such as the bus and rail rodeos; they were part of the school outreach programs. They were invested in RTD and MTA in ways that outside policing is not. We also had in-house crime analysts on staff so there was one source and one definition for crime stats, collection and examination of evidence, etc. In-house public safety seemed to be more streamlined and reliable in comparison to after 1996.
With in-house public safety, we will be able to provide a cost-effective solution to aid and protect our ridership.
Subject
SUBJECT: IN-HOUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN MOTION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Directors Najarian, Sandoval, Butts, Barger, and Bass that the Board direct the CEO to prepare a comprehensive implementation plan for Board consideration to bring public safety in-house and present the plan to the Board in January 2024. The implementation plan should reflect Metro’s commitment to building a new culture of public safety centered on a robust multi-layered approach.
SOLIS AMENDMENT:
A. The comprehensive implementation plan for Board consideration shall include, but not be limited to, the bulleted list of next steps set forth in the Board File #: 2023-0286.
B. Report back at the November 2023 Board meeting with a progress report.
HORVATH AMENDMENT:
WE THEREFORE MOVE that the Metro Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to include in the in-house public safety department implementation plan, discussion of:
A. The anticipated performance-level of the “standard” and “enhanced” deployment models presented in the previously referenced feasibility study, in terms of system-wide coverage and the provision of a visible security and/or customer service presence.
B. Best practices for system-wide coverage and deployment of law enforcement and non-law enforcement personnel from transit agencies nationally and internationally.
C. Resources required to deploy a “best practices” model.
D. Additional improvements in security technology, system hardening, interoperable communications, and deployment strategies currently underway or being contemplated for an in-house public safety department that may off-set the number of SSLE personnel required to effectively staff the system.