The recruitment of law enforcement officers for Metro’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) had a strong start with 950 applications received in the first 24 hours of the effort that began last week.
These first recruits will play a critical role in shaping the department’s culture, policies and community-focused approach while helping to build the department from the ground up.
Candidates can visit JoinMetroDPS.com to learn more about the department’s mission, hiring process, training model and community-centered policing philosophy.
The site includes application materials, minimum qualifications needed for the job and details about the competitive pay and robust benefit package that is being offered. The DPS is led by seasoned law enforcement professionals with experience at the local and federal levels.
“We are excited to mark this important milestone as we begin this critical next phase of building out Metro’s own Department of Public Safety. As we recruit and develop the first generation of Metro officers, we will shape a department that reflects our values, earns public trust, and delivers the safe, welcoming experience our riders and employees deserve,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We have built a strong foundation that reflects our deep commitment to accountability, training, and community-centered policing to lead our training program. Metro is leading the nation in creating a new approach to public safety for transit as it builds its Department of Public Safety (DPS) from the ground up.”
Unlike traditional models that rely primarily on law enforcement, Metro integrates ambassadors, homeless outreach teams and crisis and community intervention teams to assist customers and respond to quality-of-life issues. By matching each situation with the most appropriate responder, Metro is creating a more holistic public safety model. This promotes safety, dignity and support for riders while enabling law enforcement officers to focus on criminal activity and urgent safety concerns.
As a result, Metro has made significant progress in improving safety across its bus and rail system. Violent crime declined for the second consecutive year in 2025, reaching its lowest level since 2021, while customer satisfaction with safety measures reached record highs. The trend continued in March 2026 — the most recent month for which crime data is available — with a 13.6% decrease in overall crime compared to March 2025.
In addition to their law enforcement training, all officers will receive specialized training tailored to the transit environment, including awareness issues that are unique to transit, trauma-informed response, de-escalation and customer service.
“This is a rare opportunity in law enforcement,” said Metro Chief of Police and Emergency Management William Scott. “Joining this department means more than taking a job, it means helping to build a culture that protects the community from day one. We are looking for individuals who are committed to service, who value relationships, and who want a voice in creating the kind of department they’ve always wanted to join.”
On June 28, 2024, the Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved the establishment of an in-house public safety department to ensure increased visibility, accountability and consistent service delivery. By the end of 2029, Metro’s Department of Public Safety will complete the deployment of its own hired and specially trained law enforcement officers in the field, alongside ambassadors, homeless outreach, and crisis response teams utilizing a zone-based deployment model. Each zone will have at least one crisis co-response team assigned to respond to calls and do proactive engagement on trains, buses and at Metro transit stations.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.