CATS leaders outline security upgrades after fatal attack; cite staffing, technology and mental‑health gaps

Interim Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) CEO Brent Cagle and CATS’ newly hired chief of safety and security, Eric Osnes, briefed the Charlotte City Council on Sept. 2 about security changes at the transit agency following a fatal assault on the light rail on Aug. 22.

Cagle opened the presentation by expressing condolences for the victim, whom he named in the meeting as Irina Zierutska, and summarized steps CATS has taken in recent months: a shift from a corporate‑security model to a transit‑policing approach, consolidation of security contracting, an increase in security spending and upgrades to cameras and other infrastructure.

“Last year we consolidated our security contract with Professional Security Services, or PSS,” Cagle said. “We increased spending on transit security from around $5,800,000 with the previous contractor to 3 times that where we are today at just under $18,000,000.”

What CATS told council

Security model and staffing: Cagle and PSS owner Lee Ratliff said the agency is moving to a transit‑policing model intended to give officers more training and operational flexibility than a standard contract‑guard model. Cagle said the PSS contract allows for roughly 218 personnel; Ratliff and Cagle told council that PSS had about 186 personnel and is actively recruiting to reach full staffing in the coming months.

Technology and infrastructure: Cagle said CATS is…