Transit police report declines in serious crimes, more weapons seized on Metrolink
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Summary
Commander Brad Kelling told the commission Metrolink policing saw declines in crimes against persons and property year-over-year, while weapons recoveries rose to 129 this year; he attributed trends to adjusted patrol tactics and regional cooperation.
Commander Brad Kelling of the Bureau of Transit Police told the Bi-State Development commission that year-to-date statistics show declines in serious crimes on regional transit platforms while weapons recoveries have increased.
"2025 was their best year as far as it goes with crimes against persons," Kelling said, noting a drop from about 30 incidents in 2023 to 23 in 2024 and 19 in 2025 in one jurisdiction. He also said crimes against property on platforms have fallen and that arrests for narcotics and weapons violations—classified in the presentation as "crimes against society"—have increased as a result of proactive enforcement.
Kelling reported 129 weapons removed systemwide this year, a roughly 46% increase, and framed that rise as a positive result of targeted enforcement: "We were doing everything we could to keep weapons off the train, the buses, the platforms." He credited overlapping platoons, special enforcement and interjurisdictional cooperation for the trend.
In response to commissioners' questions, Kelling said the St. Louis County Metrolink task force currently has 24 officers and six supervisors assigned; he did not provide an exact total for partner agencies in St. Clair County or St. Louis City but said city policing uses additional district officers as force multipliers. He also explained that metal detectors used at some events are deployed roving or at select platforms rather than permanently at every station.
Kelling offered to provide a location-by-location breakdown of incident counts at the commission's request and said he would bring that information to the next meeting.