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Metro forms working groups after series of operator assaults; barriers and de‑escalation training prioritized
Summary
Metro Transit reported six physical assaults on operators so far in 2025, formed internal and interagency working groups with Teamsters and police, and is pursuing operator barriers on older buses and expanded de‑escalation training.
Metro Transit operations staff updated the Transportation Commission June 25 on steps the agency is taking after a series of assaults on bus operators.
Brian Mulrooney, Metro chief of operations, said Metro formed an internal working group (three Metro staff and three Teamsters Local 120 representatives) to review six physical assaults in 2025. The group reviewed video, documented procedural issues, completed a risk‑mitigation register and recommended mitigations designed to reduce both likelihood and severity of incidents.
“The most common mitigation that was recommended by the internal working group was to install operator barriers,” Mulrooney said. Metro has operator barriers built into its 2026 capital budget (to retrofit older buses) and plans to issue an RFP to identify retrofit options and costs. Metro already has operator barriers on its 60‑foot battery electric buses — 62 vehicles — representing roughly one‑third of the fleet.
Mulrooney said Metro will continue to build new buses with barriers and pursue retrofits for existing buses; other mitigations include required de‑escalation training (a “train‑the‑trainer” program is underway so trainers can deliver refresher training to frontline operators) and improved internal reporting to speed police response. He said the internal group’s review reduced the assessed risk rating for each incident after mitigations were identified.
An interagency group that includes Metro, Teamsters, police and the mayor’s office reviewed the internal findings and recommended clearer reporting protocols for police and continued joint work. Metro also said it has ordered and will post decals that describe legal penalties for assaults on operators.
Commissioners asked about the scale and durability of mitigations. Metro said most recommendations have been implemented or are in progress, that the RFP and retrofit work will be pursued as a capital project, and that de‑escalation training will be ongoing, not a single exercise.
