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OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 21, 2022
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Motion by:
DIRECTORS HAHN, KUEHL, AND BUTTS
Policing on the Metro Bus and Rail Transit System Motion
In 2017, Metro adopted a multi-agency approach for its law enforcement contract, with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), and Long Beach Police Department (LBPD). This multi-agency contract has brought about increased presence of law enforcement on the Metro Bus and Rail System as the three law enforcement agencies patrol and provide services in their respective jurisdictions.
In December 2021, the Metro Board of Directors voted (2021-0672) to increase the law enforcement contract by $75.2 million and to extend it by 12 months, from June 2022 to June 2023. While the Board authorized an extension, the three law enforcement agencies must also each agree to the extension in order to continue these services on the Metro Bus and Rail Transit System through June of 2023. The 12-month extension allows Metro staff additional time to procure a new law enforcement contract. Further, the Board has authorized additional funding to supplement the law enforcement contract with initiatives that include transit ambassadors, customer experience improvements, mental health outreach, and resources for folks experiencing homelessness on the system (2021-0745).
On April 13th, the Los Angeles Sheriff held a press conference, followed by a submission of a formal letter to the agency, stating that he will not extend the existing five-year contract beyond its original June 30, 2022 expiration date, if Metro continues to also contract with LAPD and LBPD. If the Sheriff opts to decline the opportunity offered to him by the Board to extend LASD’s contract with Metro through June 30, 2023, he will leave a void in law enforcement services on the Metro system.
Transit riders’ safety is a top priority for the Metro Board. If the Sheriff moves forward with his threat to withdraw his deputies beginning July 1, 2022, that would require Metro to identify another path to continue to provide law enforcement services for those geographic areas on the Metro Bus and Rail Transit System currently served by LASD.
Subject
SUBJECT: POLICING ON THE METRO BUS AND RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM MOTION
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RECOMMENDATION
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APPROVE Motion by Directors Hahn, Kuehl, and Butts that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to report back to the Board in May 2022 on how Metro can modify its contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department and Long Beach Police Department to ensure continuity of service and continued law enforcement services coverage throughout the Metro Bus and Rail Transit System.