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Type:
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Informational Report
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Status:
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Agenda Ready
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On agenda:
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9/18/2025
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Final action:
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Title:
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RECEIVE AND FILE the Public Safety Report.
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Indexes:
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7th Street/Metro Center Station, Access control (Transportation), APU/Citrus College Station, Barriers (Roads), Chinatown Station, City of Los Angeles, Cleaning, Cleanliness (Graffiti Abatement), Contracts, De-escalation, Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown Santa Monica Station, Elevators, Escalators, Fare Evasion, Gateway Cities (Southeast LA County) Service Sector, Gateway Cities subregion, Graffiti, Harbor Freeway Station, Harbor Transitway, Homeless Outreach, Homeless persons, Housing, I-110, Information management, Informational Report, LATTC/Ortho Institute Station, Law enforcement, Long Beach, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Los Angeles Union Station, Maintenance, Malfunction, Metro Busway G Line, Metro Busway J Line, Metro Rail A Line, Metro Rail B Line, Metro Rail C Line, Metro Rail D Line, Metro Rail E Line, Metro Transit Ambassadors, Mitigation, North Hollywood, North Hollywood Station, Operation LA Metro Homeless Outreach, Outreach, Partnerships, Pico Station, Plan, Property crimes, Public Safety Advisory Committee, Ridership, Safety, Safety and security, Santa Monica, Security, Sierra Madre Villa Station, South Pasadena Station, Station 1117, Station 1117B, System safety, Theft, Transit centers, Transit Homeless Action Plan, Transit System, Uniform Crime Reporting, Vandalism, Vermont/Beverly Station, Vermont/Santa Monica Station, Violent crimes, Visibility, Walking, Weapons, Westside Cities subregion, Westside/Central Service Sector, Willow Street Station, Willowbrook, Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
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Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: MONTHLY UPDATE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the Public Safety Report.
Issue
ISSUE
Metro is committed to providing outstanding trip experiences for all transportation system users. In furtherance of the Vision 2028 Plan, Metro implemented a multi-faceted plan to improve both safety outcomes and safety perceptions for riders and employees. The following summarizes current initiatives to accomplish this objective and recent public safety trends.
Background
BACKGROUND
Within Metro's Public Safety Mission statement, the agency recognizes that every individual is entitled to a safe, dignified, and humane experience. In March 2023, the Board adopted a revised Code of Conduct, a Bias-Free Policing Policy, and a Public Safety Analytics Policy to avert racial profiling and bias in the deployment of Metro security and contract law enforcement services. In 2024, Metro enhanced its public safety model further by adopting a three-pronged strategy consisting of 1) increasing the engaged and visible presence of uniformed personnel, 2) improving access control to ensure the system is being used only for its intended purpose of transit, and 3) strengthening partnerships to address societal issues, including homelessness, untreated mental illness, drug addiction, and crime, with the County, cities, regional agencies, and nonprofit partners. The actions described in this report align with numerous initiatives to improve safety and the perception of safety on the system.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
System Security & Law Enforcement (SSLE) is responsible for overseeing safety initiatives on the Metro system, working in coordination with other departments, including Operations and Customer Experience. SSLE forms the foundation of Metro's comprehensive approach to safety and security, focused specifically on protecting customers and employees by mitigating against crime and other societal issues on the system, enforcing Metro's Code of Conduct, ensuring the safety and hard security of Metro's facilities, directing the deployment of law enforcement and private security presence throughout the system, and proactively identifying and addressing other areas of possible concern.
The following is a snapshot of activities, performance, and outcome-related data for June and July, the most recent months for which systemwide law enforcement data is available.
OVERVIEW
The following bullets are an overview of some outcomes for Metro's public safety and security priorities. As Metro strives to continually improve and more accurately measure the impact of its initiatives, staff have established the following outcomes, which are strategically focused on the three-pronged approach.
* Continue to increase monthly ridership. In June, Metro ridership decreased by 5.7% compared to the same month of the previous year (23,751,607 boardings vs. 25,181,475 boardings), marking the first decrease in year-over-year ridership in 31 months. In July, Metro ridership was 23,770,346, which is a 6.7% decrease compared to the same month of the previous year (23,770,346 vs. 25,466,384). Many factors influence ridership patterns, including closures due to construction, such as those required to connect the existing D Line to the first phase of the D Line extension, as well as changes in people's daily routines, including working from home or transitioning to summer school. The decline was also likely due to the increase in federal law enforcement activity across Los Angeles County, numerous protests resulting in station and road closures, and several days of curfew in downtown Los Angeles, as well as many Angelenos staying home. Monthly ridership numbers allow staff to assess the overall effectiveness of all three safety initiatives.
* Ensure access to the system is only for transit riders. Law enforcement made 184 trespassing arrests in June, four of which were initiated by Contract Security (CS), due to the investigation of an ancillary alarm. In July, law enforcement made 212 trespassing arrests, and there were four removals of individuals from the ancillary areas, two of them initiated by CS after ancillary alarms were triggered. Metro's proactive strategy of having security officer fixed posts, regular patrols, roving patrols, and regular cleanings by custodians has resulted in significant access control and safety improvements and noticeable positive differences in cleanliness in ancillary areas across the Metro system. The notable improvements in cleanliness, as well as the reduction and removal of encamped areas, coupled with increased enforcement and accountability for those who trespass in the ancillary areas, are positive measures of the effectiveness of Metro's access control safety improvement strategies and tactics.
* Connect homeless riders to housing. Metro Homeless Outreach Management & Engagement (HOME) referred 146 people to interim housing and placed 22 people into permanent housing in June, bringing the total to 2,708 connections to housing for FY25 and successfully reaching 150% of the FY25 goal of 1,800 connections. In July, HOME referred 176 people to interim housing and placed 20 people into permanent housing, bringing the total to 196 connections to housing for the new fiscal year. Meeting 9.3% of the FY26 goal of 2,100 connections, HOME teams continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in addressing societal issues, specifically homelessness.
* Facilitate the reduction of violent crime. Crimes Against Persons (violent crimes) systemwide decreased by 2.7% in June 2025 compared to May (144 vs. 148), marking the lowest total for June systemwide since 2021. This was mainly due to decreases in batteries and sex offenses. When compared to June 2024, Crimes Against Persons decreased by 17.2% in June 2025. In July, Crimes Against Persons increased by 22.9% compared to June (177 vs. 144), due to increases in aggravated assaults, robberies, and sex offenses. Despite this increase in July, violent crime was 7.8% lower than in July 2024 (177 vs. 192).
* Facilitate the reduction of property crime. Crimes Against Property decreased in June by 11.5% (69 vs. 78) compared to the previous month, with a decrease in thefts on the bus system (10 vs. 26) offset by an increase in vandalism on rail and bus (12 vs. 5 and 16 vs. 11, respectively). Of the reports of vandalism on buses, ten occurred during the week of June 8, which was higher than any other week in June, correlating with the protest activity around Los Angeles. In July, Crimes Against Property slightly increased (74 vs. 69), due to an increase in thefts (52 vs. 40), although vandalism saw a decrease (21 vs. 28). Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) conducted a one-day crime suppression operation on the C Line at the end of the month to mitigate these increased thefts, where uniformed and undercover personnel closely monitored the trains, platforms, and property in person and through security cameras. This resulted in two arrests; both suspects possessed narcotics, and one suspect also had a switchblade knife and two daggers.
* Facilitate the reduction of narcotics, trespassing, and other crimes against society. Arrests for Crimes Against Society decreased by 23.1% in June 2025 compared to the previous month (289 vs. 376) due to decreases in narcotics, trespassing, and weapons arrests. These arrests may have dropped due to the conclusion of Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) enhanced deployment that ended in May, as well as the end of their three-day narcotics operation at the end of May. In July, Crimes Against Society slightly increased (347 vs. 289), due to increases in trespassing (240 vs. 184) and weapons (18 vs. 7), while narcotics decreased (89 vs. 98). More details can be found in the Systemwide Crime Stats section below. Metro reviews crimes against society to measure the effectiveness of partnerships in addressing societal issues and access control.
Below are additional data points showing crime rates for June and July and how they compare to the long-term average crime rate:
June:
* Crimes Against Persons for the month are 3.7% below the 12-month trend (6.06 crimes per 1M boardings vs. 6.30 crimes per 1M boardings).
* Crimes Against Property systemwide are up 2.1% above the 12-month trend (2.91 crimes per 1M boardings vs. 2.84 crimes per 1M boardings).
* Arrests for Crimes Against Society systemwide are 28.8% below the 12-month trend (12.17 vs. 17.08); rail accounted for 89% or 256 of these 289 crimes.
July:
* Crimes Against Persons went up by 18.4% above the 12-month trend (7.45 crimes per 1M boardings vs. 6.29 crimes per 1M boardings).
* Crimes Against Property systemwide increased by 7.1% (3.11 crimes per 1M boardings vs. 2.91 crimes per 1M boardings).
* Arrests for Crimes Against Society systemwide decreased by 8.0% compared to the 12-month trend (14.60 crimes per 1M boardings vs. 15.87 crimes per 1M boardings).
Safety improvement and crime mitigation strategic responses to outcome trends are included in subsequent sections.
CUSTOMER COMMENTS
Metro believes in continuously listening to and learning from customer feedback. Using various sources, including Metro's social media accounts, the Transit Watch app, and the Customer Call Center, staff assessed the public comments and sentiment of the Metro system. SSLE monitors general sentiment, while actionable security concerns are reported in weekly calls with security and maintenance teams. Any customer comments about criminal activity are forwarded to law enforcement for investigation and reporting.
The number of security-related reports submitted decreased month-over-month from May to June, dropping from 6,334 to 5,320, and again in July, to 4,563, due to a decline in graffiti reports. The Security Operations Center's Security Control Specialists met the department's FY25 and FY26 target alert reactive times of 120 seconds, with an initial reply of 35 seconds in June and 40 seconds in July. This target response time ensures a faster process for determining the proper resources to dispatch for response and improving the initial actions at the onset of a call for service. Please see Figure 1 in Attachment A that shows the reactive times to alerts over the past 12 months.
Overall Sentiment and Engagement
Public sentiment on safety and security is assessed by analyzing social media and Transit Watch app reports from the public, as well as Ambassadors, Contract Security, and Law Enforcement. Most reports from the Transit Watch app come from Ambassadors and Contract Security; therefore, the monthly sentiment data may be biased.
In June and July, the overall sentiment about safety and security was slightly more positive than the previous month. Just as in the prior month, the most positive comments were about the system's visible security presence, highlighting visible security in stations.
* June 14 - On Reddit, a post about a rider's experience on the A Line generated positive engagement. The rider stated that his ride home from Bunker Hill Station to APU/Citrus College Station was "a great experience" due to the high presence of security personnel.
* June 17 - On X, a user referenced the Transit Watch app and stated that "staff actually shows up and does stuff" when a Transit Watch report is submitted, and that response time is great on the B Line.
* July 17 - On Reddit, a rider's post about the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station received positive engagement, stating that "there were so many Ambassadors, security, and cleaning staff around" when he visited the station for the first time.
* July 22 - On X, a user mentioned that having security "at the faregates enforcing" fare has been the best thing that Metro could have done because this keeps the "troublemakers" out.
Like previous months, the Facilities/Infrastructure topic remained the most discussed, driven by a high volume of Transit Watch reports by Ambassadors and the public. There were 13,721 mentions in June, a 49% decrease compared to May, and 13,343 mentions in July, a 3% decrease compared to June. Most of these engagements mention graffiti at stations or malfunctioning fare gates, displays, or elevators, which tend to carry a negative sentiment.
From May to June, the topics that are directly tied to personal safety, like fights, harassment, persons in need, thefts, sexual assaults-physical, sexual harassment-non physical, smoking/alcohol/drugs, and suspicious activity decreased by 20%. However, from June to July, they increased by 17%. These findings have been shared in SSLE's Public Safety Operations, Communications, Analytics, and Intelligence meeting for department leadership awareness and potential impacts on deployments. When discussing safety and security at specific Metro stations, these stations below garnered the most conversations in June and July, respectively:
June 2025:
1. Chinatown Station - mainly due to conversations around protest activity.
2. LATTC/Ortho Institute Station
3. Union Station - due to unverified ICE activity being mentioned in conversations by users on social media.
July 2025:
1. Union Station - conversations centered on fare evasion incidents and the visibility of new security patrols at the station.
2. Pico Station - riders praised the installation of brighter platform lighting and the rollout of additional security cameras.
3. Harbor Freeway Station - conversations around platform overcrowding during peak hours and calls for more on-site staff support.
Most Common Customer Concerns
To assess the most common customer concerns from the public, Metro looked at incidents submitted through the Transit Watch app by the public. The three most reported types of incidents are property crime related to graffiti (42% and 39% of reported incidents in June and July, respectively), smoking/alcohol/drugs (22% and 26% of reported incidents in June and July, respectively), and fights or disturbances (13% and 13% of reported incidents in June and July, respectively). Below are the top three locations for each incident type for June and July 2025:
June 2025
1. Graffiti - Sierra Madre Villa Station, Vermont/Beverly Station, and 7th Street/Metro Center Station
2. Smoking/Alcohol/Drugs - 7th Street/Metro Center Station, Union Station, and Reseda Station
3. Fights or Disturbances - Union Station, Pico Station, and South Pasadena Station
July 2025
1. Graffiti - Vermont/Beverly Station, Sierra Madre Villa Station, and Vermont/Santa Monica Station
2. Smoking/Alcohol/Drugs - Vermont/Santa Monica Station, North Hollywood Station, and 7th Street/Metro Center Station
3. Fights or Disturbances - North Hollywood Station, Vermont/Santa Monica Station, and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
While the majority of ridership occurs on buses, most reports on the Transit Watch app focused on rail stations. Rider reports continue to highlight recurring issues related to graffiti and Code of Conduct violations (e.g., smoking, alcohol, and drug use) along the A, B, C, and E lines. This variance in reporting could be partially attributed to the fact that there are more factors to report about rail stations compared to buses, such as elevator/escalator issues, the mezzanine areas, and activities leading into a station. Even so, Metro promotes the Transit Watch app to all customers online, on YouTube, and through signage within the bus system. Metro continuously works to identify ways to address customer feedback and concerns. MTS and Contract Security train riding teams continue to enforce and provide education on Metro's Code of Conduct. In response to the feedback, these observations are shared during weekly meetings between public safety partners, and security patrols are adjusted at stations with the highest observations. More details on deployment are provided in the section below.
Additionally, SSLE actively works on mitigating drug use on our system. Staff work collaboratively with other public safety personnel to regularly review various data sources and adjust deployments of uniformed personnel. Law Enforcement, MTS, and Contract Security enforce the penal code and Code of Conduct, respectively. LAPD and LASD actively disrupt narcotics distribution when it is observed or reported by an employee or rider. In June, LAPD and LASD made 98 arrests (LAPD - 91; LASD - 7) for narcotics, while MTS cited five individuals for smoking/vaping. In July, LAPD and LASD made 68 arrests (LAPD - 60; LASD - 8) for narcotics, while MTS cited two individuals for smoking/vaping. In comparison, LAPD and LASD made 142 arrests (LAPD - 128; LASD - 14) for narcotics in May, while MTS cited 19 individuals for smoking/vaping. Metro's public safety personnel are also equipped with Narcan and administer it as needed to individuals experiencing symptoms of an overdose (refer to Attachment B for more details). More details are included in the Deployment section of this report.
ENGAGED & VISIBLE DEPLOYMENT
The following are Metro's public safety personnel's deployment activities for June and July, which are intended to promote the safe access and usage of the transit system, as well as prevent and reduce crime or other societal issues within the system.
Law Enforcement
LAPD and LASD enforce the penal and municipal code on the system, including conducting trespass investigations. Please see Figure 2 in Attachment A for law enforcement's efforts for June and July.
In June, the two law enforcement agencies made 493 arrests and issued 737 citations. In July, they made 598 arrests and issued 654 citations. Law enforcement citations and warnings are not related to fare evasion but are given for trespassing, loitering, and moving violations. Details on the demographics of individuals arrested can be found in Attachment C. Law enforcement's separate homeless outreach teams also engage with unhoused individuals on the system and offer available services; more details can be found in Attachment D.
Transit Security
A primary role of MTS is Code of Conduct enforcement. In June, MTS officers issued 238 citations and 229 written warnings. In July, they issued 92 citations and 77 written warnings for Code of Conduct violations. Refer to Attachment E for more details on MTS activity and deployment this month and a demographic breakdown of those cited.
Most of the violations, 453 (97%), were due to individuals failing to provide proof of fare. Approximately 64% of these violations in June were issued at TAP-to-Exit locations: Downtown Santa Monica (23%), Downtown Long Beach (5%), Union Station (15%), North Hollywood (19%), and APU/Citrus (2%). In July, 164 (97%) of the violations were due to individuals failing to provide proof of fare. Approximately 70% of them were issued at TAP-to-Exit locations: North Hollywood (26%), Union Station (21%), Downtown Santa Monica (18%), and Downtown Long Beach (3%). Although the TAP-to-Exit program has been paused at Union Station and North Hollywood Station since April 10, MTS continues its efforts to deter those attempting to access the system for non-transit purposes in violation of the Code of Conduct. This is shown by the citations still being issued at those stations. Metro will continue these efforts as the results show strong safety metrics and responsiveness to stated customer concerns about what makes them feel safe.
Metro Ambassadors
Metro Ambassadors provide support to riders, connect them to resources, and report safety incidents or maintenance needs, thereby helping to improve the perception of safety and the overall customer experience. As of June 6, 2025, with the opening of the new LAX/Metro Transit Center (LAX/MTC), Ambassador resources were redeployed to support this key hub. Ten Ambassadors per shift are now permanently assigned to the new LAX/MTC and will remain stationed there daily until further notice. Ambassadors continue to be deployed across all rail lines, as well as the G Line and J Line. See Attachment F for more details on Ambassador deployments this month.
In June 2025, Ambassadors conducted 53,127 customer engagements and reported:
* 4,610 cleanliness issues (17% decrease from May 2025)
* 3,417 graffiti incidents (14% decrease from May 2025)
* 602 elevator and escalator problems (0.3% increase from May 2025)
In July 2025, Ambassadors conducted 49,639 customer engagements and reported:
* 5,467 cleanliness issues (3.1% decrease from June 2025)
* 2,683 graffiti incidents (21% decrease from June 2025)
* 626 elevator and escalator problems (4% increase from June 2025)
Bus Safety Teams
MTS Bus Safety Teams (BSTs) rotate across the top ten bus lines with reported incidents of operator assaults and bus lines with newly reported incidents of operator assaults and other significant security incidents to enforce Metro's Code of Conduct. The BSTs are augmented with law enforcement support. In June, there were 1,641 and 8,200 bus boardings by LAPD officers and LASD deputies, respectively.* In July, there were 1,686 and 9,051 bus boardings by LAPD officers and LASD deputies, respectively.* For more details on MTS activities, refer to Attachment E.
End of Line Operations
Contract Security (CS) officers offload trains at 11 end-of-line (EOL) rail stations. This operation deters patrons from riding the system without a valid fare while allowing train cleaning to maintain a clean and safe environment. Staff are seeing a substantial year-over-year decline in refusal rates. June 2025 recorded a 91% decrease in offloading refusals compared to June 2024. July 2025 also recorded an 89% decrease in offloading refusals compared to July 2024. This significant decline underscores the effectiveness of Metro's ongoing strategies and interventions aimed at enhancing compliance and engagement. See Figure 3 in Attachment A for the downward trend.
In addition, MTS Bus Safety Teams conducted EOL operations during Owl Service on Line 2 in Exposition Park and Line 4 in Downtown Los Angeles to address bus operators' concerns about individuals refusing to alight buses at the end of the line. In June, these operations resulted in 187 removals on Line 2 and 203 removals on Line 4 for non-compliance between June 2 and June 27. In July, these operations resulted in 198 removals on Line 2 and 211 removals on Line 4 between June 30 and August 1. Enforcing the Customer Code of Conduct deters repeat offenders from staying on trains at the EOL. Homeless outreach workers are also at end-of-line stations to offer resources and services.
Station Experience Updates
Metro is committed to safety and partners with city officials and community groups, including local councils and businesses, to address challenges at various stations. Attachment G describes recent initiatives by the Station Experience team, including:
* To address challenges with maintaining stairway and elevator access at the Cal State LA Busway Station, this station now has the elevator attendant program, becoming the fourth station.
* To address visibility and illicit activity issues at the southbound platform at Slauson/I-110 Transitway Station, staff implemented the successful safety improvements that were previously completed on the northbound platform, which included the relocation of map cases and high-pressure washing of the station canopy.
* To improve safety, cleanliness, and customer experience at 37th St/USC Transitway Station, staff completed a major overhaul work, including upgraded LED lighting, relocated map cases, and deep cleaning the canopy and platform.
* To improve Metro's on-street visibility and rider wayfinding, staff installed a bus stop beacon upgrade for four J Line stops near popular sports and entertainment venues as a pilot.
* To address graffiti on the transparent sound walls at stations along the I-110 Harbor Transitway, staff collaborated with Caltrans in having their regular freeway sweeping team help monitor for and clean graffiti on those sound walls that are in challenging areas for Metro staff to clean themselves.
* To address trespassing, vandalism, and encampments along the new alignment for the A Line Foothill Extension to Pomona, staff shared best practices with the project team, including utilizing technology advancements to significantly reduce track intrusions.
* To address cleanliness issues at the underutilized parking structure at Willow Station, staff worked with internal Metro departments to better secure the area using technology advancements.
* To enhance natural surveillance at Azusa Station, staff worked collaboratively with the City of Azusa and Foothill Transit to upgrade the elevator programming, play classical music, and introduce daily paid parking.
* To improve wayfinding to the Metro J Line at the Patsaouras Busway Platform, staff began a targeted pilot to install international pictogram graphics on the steps of the entrance staircase to dramatically increase visibility.
Looking ahead, staff continue to identify hotspot stations with similar challenges to expand these best practice interventions. This includes the following:
* Staff is working with the City of Santa Monica to address the misuse of the emergency exit to trespass at Downtown Santa Monica Station.
* There are ongoing challenges with vandalism and illicit activity returning to Reseda Station. Staff is having Throne review their data to better understand the disproportionate pattern of vandalism and working to repair and restore station amenities that helped improve safety and cleanliness.
* Staff is working to coordinate a multi-pronged approach using HOME teams, fencing repairs, and technology advancements to address persistent break-ins of the emergency exit pathway underneath the Patsaouras Busway Station along the I-10 Express Lanes.
PARTNERSHIPS TO MITIGATE SOCIETAL ISSUES
Greater Los Angeles faces societal issues like any other metropolitan area, including homelessness and behavioral health concerns. Metro utilizes a care-based approach, collaborating with the Department of Health Services (DHS) and homeless service agencies to deploy multidisciplinary outreach teams (MDTs) across the rail and bus system and improve access to mental health and substance abuse resources. Addressing societal issues requires collaboration across Metro departments, so Ambassadors, homeless outreach, contract security, and law enforcement coordinate regularly to address end-of-line and hotspot stations where societal factors are regularly present. This multi-layer deployment best positions Metro to mitigate and respond to the issues of society that occur in cities across the country, including the greater LA area.
Helping Riders Experiencing Homelessness
By connecting people to housing resources, Metro's multidisciplinary outreach teams are helping improve the safety of unhoused riders sheltering on our system. In June, MDTs enrolled 515 people into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), referred 146 people to interim housing, and placed 22 people into permanent housing. In July, MDTs enrolled 584 people into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), referred 176 people to interim housing, and placed 20 people into permanent housing. In FY25, HOME enrolled 6,671 people into HMIS and connected 2,708 to interim or permanent housing. For FY26, 584 people have been enrolled into HMIS and connected 196 to interim or permanent housing thus far.
Responding to Mental Health & Emotional Distress
In addition to having MDTs on the system, SSLE's law enforcement partners also have their respective outreach units deployed to respond to and assist individuals experiencing mental health crises. LAPD's Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement (HOPE) teams and LASD's Mental Evaluation Team (MET) both involve officers working alongside a licensed mental health clinician. In June, LAPD's HOPE team engaged 130 individuals, referring five of them to services. LASD's MET had 339 engagements and referred 16 of them to social services. In July, LAPD's HOPE team engaged 181 individuals, referring seven of them to services. LASD's MET had 560 engagements and referred 13 of them to social services. More details can be found in Attachment D. Metro also collaborates with the LA County Department of Mental Health (DMH), as Metro staff have been trained to identify individuals appropriate for referrals and select DMH staff can access the system when mental health crises occur.
Systemwide Crime Stats - July 2025 vs. June 2025 vs. May 2025
Metro coordinates with its law enforcement partners to provide a visible, engaged presence on the bus and rail system, enforcing the penal code to deter criminal activity, such as assaults, thefts, and trespassing. Comparing the statistics with the previous month and normalizing for ridership allows SSLE and its public safety partners to better observe trends and determine and update deployments as necessary.
Overall, Crimes Against Persons had a slight decrease in June (144 vs. 148 in May) before increasing in July (177 vs. 144 in June) due to an increase in aggravated assaults, robberies, and sex offenses. The Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station on the C Line experienced a rise in robberies, with four incidents reported, prompting an undercover operation by LASD at the end of July. This resulted in two arrests; both suspects possessed narcotics, and one suspect also had a switchblade knife and two daggers. While there was also an increase in robberies on the bus system, no pattern was seen. Most of the sex offenses occurred on the bus system, and they ranged from a suspect touching the victim inappropriately to exposing themselves. Law enforcement will continue to monitor activity on the bus system for any patterns and for any repeat offenders.
Crimes Against Property saw a decrease in June compared to May, with a decrease in thefts on the rail and bus system (30 vs. 35 and 10 vs 26, respectively), offset by an increase in vandalism on rail and buses (12 vs. 5 and 16 vs. 11, respectively). In July, there was a slight increase due to a rise in thefts on the rail system. As a result, on July 30, LASD conducted a one-day crime suppression operation on the C Line, from Willowbrook to Norwalk stations, in response to reports of robberies, cell phone thefts, and copper wire thefts in the area. Law enforcement did not observe any notable patterns in these increased vandalism incidents and continues to monitor for any suspicious activity.
Crimes Against Society decreased in June across all three major categories: trespassing, narcotics, and weapons. In July, the number of these crimes increased (347 vs. 289), primarily due to increases in arrests for trespassing and possession of weapons. Crimes in these categories fluctuate in relation to enforcement levels.
June 2025
* Crimes Against Persons slightly decreased in June compared to May (144 vs. 148). This marks the lowest total seen for June systemwide since 2021.
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Persons increased by 20.8% (93 vs. 77) due to increases in aggravated assaults (22 vs. 15), batteries (53 vs. 44), and robberies (15 vs. 11). Despite the increases, this still represents the lowest number seen for June on the rail system since 2021.
o On the bus system, Crimes Against Persons decreased by 28.2% (51 vs. 71), due to decreases in aggravated assaults (11 vs. 13) and batteries (31 vs. 45).
* Crimes Against Property decreased by 11.5% in June compared to May (69 vs. 78).
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Property increased by 4.9% due to an increase in vandalism (12 vs. 5), although there was a decrease in thefts (30 vs. 35).
o Crimes Against Property decreased by 29.7% on buses as a result of a drop in thefts (10 vs. 26); however, vandalism increased by 45.5% (16 vs. 11).
* Crimes Against Society decreased by 23.1% in June compared to May (289 vs. 376).
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Society decreased by 24.9% (256 vs. 341) due to decreases in narcotics (85 vs. 113), trespassing (168 vs. 214), and weapons (3 vs. 14).
o On the bus system, Crimes Against Society decreased by 5.7% (33 vs. 35), due to a decrease in narcotics (13 vs. 29).
July 2025
* Crimes Against Persons increased by 22.9% in July compared to June (177 vs. 144).
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Persons increased by 10.8% (103 vs. 93) due to increases in aggravated assaults (32 vs. 22).
o On the bus system, Crimes Against Persons increased by 45.1% (74 vs. 51), due to increases in aggravated assaults (21 vs. 11) and robberies (15 vs. 9).
* Crimes Against Property slightly increased in July compared to June (74 vs. 69).
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Property had an increase due to thefts (45 vs. 30), despite a decrease in vandalism (10 vs. 12).
o Crimes Against Property decreased by 30.8% on buses as a result of fewer incidents of thefts (7 vs. 10) and vandalism (11 vs. 16).
* Crimes Against Society increased by 20% in July compared to June (347 vs. 289).
o On the rail system, Crimes Against Society increased by 26.6% (324 vs. 256) due to increases in trespassing (237 vs. 168) and weapons (14 vs. 3).
o On the bus system, Crimes Against Society decreased by 30.3% (23 vs. 33), due to decreases in trespassing (3 vs. 16).
Per One Million Boardings
June 2025
* Crimes Against Persons increased by 12.5% compared to May 2025 (6.06 vs. 5.39) and decreased by 12.6% compared to June 2024 (6.06 vs. 6.91). It is the lowest rate of incidents per one million boardings seen for the month of June since 2019. Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 6.06 is higher (4.41 and 4.86 for June 2018 and June 2019, respectively).
* Crimes Against Property slightly increased compared to May 2025 (2.91 vs. 2.84) and by 7.6% compared to June 2024 (2.91 vs. 2.70). It is the second lowest rate of incidents per one million boardings seen for the month of June since 2018. Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 2.91 is lower (3.93 and 3.09 for June 2018 and June 2019, respectively).
* Crimes Against Society decreased by 11.2% compared to May 2025 (12.17 vs. 13.70) and decreased by 58.5% compared to June 2024 (12.17 vs. 29.31). Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 12.17 is higher (0.95 and 0.68 for June 2018 and June 2019, respectively).
July 2025
* Crimes Against Persons increased by 22.5% compared to June 2025 (7.45 vs. 6.06) and decreased by 1.2% compared to July 2024 (7.45 vs. 7.54). Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 7.45 is higher (4.54 and 4.53 for July 2018 and July 2019, respectively).
* Crimes Against Property increased by 7.2% compared to June 2025 (3.11 vs. 2.91) and by 32.1% compared to July 2024 (3.11 vs. 2.36). Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 3.11 is lower than July 2018 (3.13) and higher than July 2019 (2.51).
* Crimes Against Society increased by 20.0% compared to June 2025 (14.60 vs. 12.17) and decreased by 49.9% compared to July 2024 (14.60 vs. 29.14). Compared to pre-pandemic years, the current rate of 14.60 is higher (0.90 and 1.06 for July 2018 and July 2019, respectively).
Refer to Attachment H for more details on the data normalized by ridership. Based on internal metrics and discussions with staff, law enforcement partners adjust their deployments weekly and as conditions require.
Mitigating Assaults Against Frontline Employees
Bus Operators
Metro's law enforcement partners reported four operator assaults in June, a slight decrease from May (4 vs. 5). Using physical force, brandishing a weapon, spitting, and using a weapon or object were the methods of assaults on operators. Of the four assaults reported, three occurred inside the vehicle, and three reported a barrier in use. In July, operator assaults decreased further from June to two incidents (2 vs. 4). Using physical force and brandishing a weapon were the methods of assaults on operators. One incident occurred in the vehicle, while the other occurred outside of the vehicle. Both reported a barrier in use. The number of operator assaults in June and July is the lowest seen since September 2020, when two assaults were reported during a period of very low ridership due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021-when ridership was abnormally low-the last time operator assaults were as low as they are now was in August 2019, when there were two reported operator assaults. See Figure D in Attachment I for a graph of the downward trend.
For the assaults in June, one assault with a barrier involved a suspect pepper-spraying the barrier door, causing the operator and passengers to cough. Another assault occurred when a suspect spat at the operator through the opening where the farebox is. The third assault with a barrier in place occurred when the suspect brandished a firearm at the operator as he was walking off the bus. All three operators declined medical attention. The assault that occurred outside the barrier took place as the operator was walking to the restroom, and a suspect struck him on the left ear. The suspect was arrested, and the operator declined medical attention.
In July, one incident involved the suspect spitting on the operator and then engaging in a fight with the operator, resulting in the suspect's arrest. The other assault involved a suspect brandishing a knife on board a bus; the suspect was not arrested. Neither operator required medical attention. See Attachment I for more details on the assaults.
Staff continues to see a decrease in assault severity, as retrofit enclosed bus barriers help prevent serious injuries. Staff will continue to analyze assaults as more months of data are collected. When trends show gap exploitation, they will offer mitigation recommendations to help develop best safety practices that can be shared with operators by their supervisors.
In addition to the protection that physical barriers give, all operators have received de-escalation training. Other safety measures in place include surveillance cameras, penalty signage, and video monitors to deter assaults on operators when they are outside the operator compartment area. Assault events are reviewed by Metro to identify root issues, possible preventive measures, and to provide lessons learned.
Other Frontline Staff
Assaults on frontline staff (excluding operators) decreased from 18 in May to eight in June and then increased to 12 in July. The methods of assault on these frontline staff vary from suspects using their hands to shove or punch staff to throwing an object to spitting on an employee. Of the eight assaults in June, three occurred on the B Line, three occurred at Union Station (not line-specific), one occurred on the A Line, and one occurred on the J Line. Of the twelve assaults in July, four occurred on the B Line, three each occurred on the A Line and Union Station (not line-specific), and one each occurred on the G Line and J Line.
Assaults on security officers involve physical altercations as they approach individuals to enforce the Code of Conduct, often provoking confrontational reactions. LASD provides enhanced training focused on officer safety, de-escalation techniques, arrest procedures, and customer service. Similarly, Contract Security has expanded its training to reduce officer assaults. For frontline staff like Ambassadors, Blue Shirts, and Custodians, assaults are unpredictable and can include spitting, verbal threats, or throwing objects. They also may face physical assaults. All frontline staff undergo de-escalation training to better manage uncooperative or aggressive individuals. More details on assault methods, reasons, and mitigations can be found in Attachment I.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Metro continues to take a cross-disciplinary approach to sustain and grow ridership, improve customer experience, and, most importantly, ensure the safety of Metro's system. The safety of Metro's riders and employees continues to be a top priority. Contract Security and MTS Bus Safety Teams regularly conduct EOL offloading operations at rail and bus stations, respectively, setting a consistent standard on what riders should do upon reaching the last station. In June and July, MTS Bus Safety Teams focused on bus Lines 2 and 4, improving staff safety as operators had concerns of individuals refusing to alight at the last stop. Additionally, homeless outreach teams are available at EOL stations to offer services to any individuals experiencing homelessness. The Transit Watch App continues to be promoted as an avenue for riders to report any suspicious activity, and the Metro website has a dedicated page on what the agency is doing to address safety on the system. Through these safety operations and comprehensive deployment, Metro is creating a safer environment for employees to perform their duties and for riders to enjoy their trip experience.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro's significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro's Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California's statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
This item supports Metro's systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through operational activities that will improve public safety and customer experience on Metro's bus and rail system and further encourage transit ridership. Metro's Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans' Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports Strategic Plan Goals #2.1: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system; Metro is committed to improving security and #5.6: Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization; Metro will foster and maintain a strong safety culture.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
SSLE will continue to monitor the performance of its law enforcement partners, private security, and Transit Security Officers, as well as the agency's crime statistics. It also considers information from system operations, surveys, customer complaints, and physical security assessments, amongst other sources, to analyze safety-related issues, adjust deployment strategies, and formulate new interventions.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Additional Data
Attachment B - Narcan Data June & July 2025
Attachment C - Arrests by Race & Ethnicity June & July 2025
Attachment D - Law Enforcement Homeless Outreach June & July 2025
Attachment E - Metro Transit Security Activities June & July 2025
Attachment F - Metro Ambassador Activities June & July 2025
Attachment G - Station Experience Updates
Attachment H - Law Enforcement Crime Summary June & July 2025
Attachment I - Frontline Safety Additional Data June & July 2025
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Robert Gummer, Deputy Chief, System Security and Law Enforcement
Officer, (213) 922-4513
Stephen Tu, Deputy Executive Officer, Operations, (213) 418-3005
Karen Parks, Senior Director, Special Projects, (213) 922-4612
Imelda Hernandez, Senior Manager, Transportation Planning, (213) 922-4848
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: William Scott, Chief of Police and Emergency Management, (213) 922-
5448
Jennifer Vides, Chief Customer Experience Officer, (213) 940-4060
Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
Digitally approved by Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer
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