In a recent preliminary report from the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA), findings indicate a stark reduction in armed security personnel for the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). As reported by OSA, the audit, spurred by the tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska on a CATS train, reveals that the number of armed security guards has decreased by at least 40% despite a significant increase in contract value from $5.9 million in 2022 to $18.4 million in 2025.
Throughout the years, CATS has gone through a series of security contracts, initiating with G4S Secure Solutions and transitioning through several other firms to its current contract with Professional Security Services (PSS). While the initial contract with G4S provided between 68 and 88 armed security personnel, confirmation from the City of Charlotte this month, places the figure at merely 39 with PSS. Despite the increased financial investment, not all of CATS's 48 train cars can be covered by an armed guard simultaneously.
Adding to the complexity of the matter, the OSA uncovered the apparent influence of the Charlotte Business Inclusion (CBI) program on the solicitation for private security contracts. The CBI program, aimed at enhancing participation of Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprises, seemingly wields considerable weight in the city's decision-making processes. In one instance specific to 2022, the Request for Proposal for unarmed security was limited to firms registered solely with CBI, effectively excluding non-registered firms from contention, regardless of their qualifications or certifications.
"The safety of the citizens of Charlotte needs to be first and foremost when security decisions are being made," State Auditor Dave Boliek asserted in the report. He further expressed concern over "a clear shift away from armed security" and the potential repercussions of placing politics over public safety. As the OSA continues its analysis, they aim to delve deeper into the rationale behind the structuring and approval of these critical security contracts.
The City of Charlotte is reportedly working on a response to the findings presented in OSA's Preliminary Special Report. All eyes are now on the promised comprehensive report that OSA is set to release after conducting a full review of the issue at hand, which will possibly shed more light on the intersection of security practices and inclusion policies.
