In a move to tackle an upswing in violence across its network, the Los Angeles Metro Board has unanimously endorsed the creation of its police department. Citing the need for improved security measures, Metro officials have resolved to phase out its current reliance on contracted policing in favor of an in-house force. Rolling out over five years, the “Transit Community Public Safety Department” (TCPSD) will aim to more closely meet the needs of the transit environment.

The decision, as detailed by NBC Los Angeles, involves a restructuring of how safety is enforced on the Metro system. The freshly minted TCPSD is designed to not just simply respond to crimes but to also address broader societal issues, explained Robert Gunmer, Deputy Chief of Systems Security and Law Enforcement at Metro. "You will see dedicated metro police with their primary focus their only focus on transit services,” Gunmer told NBC Los Angeles. The new police force will include 386 sworn officers and 34 transit officers, supplemented by 673 ambassadors as well as crisis intervention and homeless outreach teams.

Amidst recent troubling incidents, including attacks on Metro bus drivers and the death of a resident, Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Karen Bass ordered an “immediate surge” in safety personnel, as reported by CBS News. This emerged as part of a bigger plan to bolster security measures and prevent crime within the transit system.

Despite the consensus among Metro leaders, certain officials voiced their concerns. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna questioned the timing of the initiative, bringing attention to upcoming major events expected to draw crowds, such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. "This is not a time to experiment with new projects," Luna said, "Public safety is too critical to do that with," according to an interview with ABC7.