Safety and security on Metro: get to know LASD

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Metro’s Board of Directors approved a new contract to increase the police’s presence on Metro in 2017. Since then, the Los Angeles and Long Beach police departments have joined the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in patrolling the Metro system.

In this four-part series on safety and security we’ll be introducing you to our law enforcement partners. This installment features the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, who cover the most ground across our system. From Azusa to Santa Monica to the San Fernando Valley, you’ll find LASD responding to calls and assisting riders.

In the video above, Deputy Waleska “Wally” Bracks gives some tips on what to include in your reports to help LASD identify a person of interest.

If you ever encounter or witness a situation that you feel is dangerous or makes you feel unsafe, please call security right away at 888.950.7233. If it’s an emergency, dial 9-1-1. You can alert Metro staff to incidents by using the train intercom or station intercoms marked by red signs on station platforms. You can also make reports anonymously and upload photos or video with the Transit Watch app. 

If you’re not able to report a crime immediately, try to get to a safe location and then make the call. Please keep in mind our Twitter feeds are not staffed 24/7 — while we do our best to assist when we’re able, it’s always best to directly report incidents right away to law enforcement.

Previous posts in this series:

Categories: Transportation News

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14 replies ›

  1. Why Metro doesn’t have four officers patrolling the Red Line at Union Station during all operating hours is beyond me! Homeless people smoking, urinating, and harassing other riders happen a lot at Union Station! Have the cops walk from one end of the platform to another! Though I rarely exit the LV side of the Union Station, I have NEVER see any fare checkers on the LV side! I seem them once in a long while at the Alameda side. Check for fares more often, have more officers patrol Union Station and I bet you the number of homeless and incidents will drop!

  2. Friday we took Gold and Red lines to Disney Hall. There was a panhandler on the Gold line on the way in. Heading home that evening on both the Red and Gold one third of the passengers in our cars were homeless, either mumbling to themselves or passed out in the seats. Not to mention we spent 30 minutes waiting on platforms. It’s as if Metro wants us to start driving to downtown again.

    • You’re allowed to ride Metro if you’re homeless, mumble to yourself, and sleep in your seat. What would you expect Metro do about these behaviors?

      • Does Metro have to be a rolling flophouse? Do our libraries have to be encampments for the mentally ill? My plan would be to gut the Pentagon and start taking care of Americans.

        • Hi Gary;

          I don’t think the system is a “rolling flophouse.” There are certainly homeless who use the system although overall I think it’s a small percentage of overall riders. Metro does have a homeless task force to help connect the homeless with social services. I do know the issue is frustrating to many in our region, and I also think that what you see on Metro is a reflection of what is happening outside the transit system across our region.

          Steve Hymon
          Editor, The Source

          • Steve, you’re right, it’s not a Metro issue, it’s a society issue. For some reason we’ve decided our priorities lie elsewhere.

    • I ride BART often, since I live in the Bay area. Often I see panhandlers, mumbling homeless, and passed-out homeless, though nowhere near 33%. I doubt if they paid the fares.

  3. I saw this comment on Facebook:
    According to the Los Angeles Times, one out of three Los Angeles Metro passengers are assaulted every year.

    Is that true? Not a good situation.

    • I’ve been riding Metro daily since about 2005 and have never been assaulted. In fact, I’ve only ever witnessed one physical altercation (on the Blue Line) about 10 years ago. There’s been a couple of, “Oh man, these two people are about to go…” moments, but nothing more than that.

  4. TXT? Sending a txt is pretty inconspicuous when the problem is right in front of you. Phone calls are pretty public. Is there a TXT number anyone monitors?

  5. The amount of homeless people passed out and acting crazy on the red line trains and platforms has jumped up considerably in the last few months. I wish we had full time station attendants that could help with the people behaving badly within the system. That strange and confusing “courtesy” campaign aint working