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Metro officials report 20% drop in transit crime; committee notes and files report
Summary
Metro Transit officials told the Public Safety Committee that crime on buses and trains fell about 20% from 2023 to 2024 and outlined continued use of ambassadors, cameras and police partnerships; the committee voted to note and file the report.
Natalie Cortés, commanding officer for Metro Transit, told the Public Safety Committee on April 2 that reported crime on the county transit system fell about 20% compared with 2023, and outlined operational steps the agency says contributed to the reduction.
“...we had a twenty percent reduction in crime the system compared with twenty twenty-three,” Cortés said. She reported that the transit program seized about 160 weapons in the period covered, recorded roughly 160,000 contacts with transit staff and logged about 13,900 service calls tied to enforcement and support activities.
The report described a multi-layered approach that pairs unarmed “ambassadors,” uniformed and unarmed security staff, and armed MPS officers, plus targeted deployments at identified hotspots. Cortés said the ambassador program had about 300 people in the roster, with roughly 100 working each day, and that ambassadors use tablets to request police or other services in real time.
“Working with the transit system under a multi-layered approach, with partnerships and communications, we are restoring the system,” Cortés said.
Committee members praised the reported declines and asked for more recent and detailed data. Councilmember Price asked whether Cortés could provide up‑to‑date numbers beyond the October 2024 report; Cortés said she had more recent figures covering June 2024–June 2025 showing a 6% reduction in violent crime and a 26% drop in property-related crime for the period cited.
Members also discussed enforcement practices such as the role of “tap” fare checks and clarified that the contract modification removed enforcement of fare payment as part of the transit security contract; Cortés said fare‑verification is no longer an enforcement action under the contract modifications and that staff instead focus on de‑escalation and referrals to ambassadors.
Committee members repeatedly framed the report in the context of major upcoming events, including the 2028 Olympics, urging continued investment in the safety program. After discussion the committee voted to note and file the Metro report.
The report was presented and discussed during the committee's April 2 meeting and was formally noted and filed by the committee at the same session.
