L.A. Metro to study creating a police force, other safety measures

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board is scheduled March 23 to consider expanding its public safety plan, including the creation of its own police force.

The public safety proposals will be discussed by board committees before going to the full board, L.A. Metro officials said in a press release.

The proposals include:

• Study on creating a new police force. Staff would study the possible creation of an L.A. Metro police force. In addition, the board would consider a staff recommendation to continue L.A. Metro's existing contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and Long Beach Police Department for up to three more years while the agency explores and tests new approaches to public safety. The existing contracts went into effect in mid-2017 and are valid through June.
• Bias-free policing and public safety data analytics policies. The policies would set expectations and standards to help L.A. Metro eliminate potential bias in the way the system is patrolled. The proposal calls for training and tracking of L.A. Metro's progress in reducing complaints filed against safety and security staff. The analytics policy aims to remove bias from public safety data and how the data is used to deploy safety resources.
• Revised rider code of conduct. The revised code would be more consistent with L.A. Metro's public safety mission and values statements. Changes would include removing language that could be construed as targeting specific communities.

According to an L.A. Metro survey conducted in 2021, 68% of riders indicated they want to see more armed security and law enforcement staff on the system, L.A. Metro officials said. The same survey found that 76% of riders wanted to see an unarmed presence on the transit system; that response prompted L.A. Metro to create its ambassadors program that helps riders find their way, provides extra security and helps riders in need of assistance. Since the program's launch in October 2022, L.A. Metro has trained and deployed more than 260 ambassadors.