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Quarterly safety and security update: riders report improved perceptions, police report staffing and activity gains
Summary
Metro Transit and Metropolitan Council staff reported improved rider perceptions of safety (noting gains compared with 2023–24), a decline in riders reporting seeing drug use, increases in officer-initiated activity and onboard presence, and plans to expand beats, bus onboard teams and coordinated homeless outreach as the system prepares for the Green Line Extension.
Metro Transit staff and the Metro Transit Police Department presented a quarterly Safety and Security Action Plan (SSAP) update at the May 27 Metropolitan Council meeting, reporting measurable gains in rider perceptions and ongoing investments in staffing and outreach.
Rachel Jones, principal researcher, summarized survey results showing roughly two‑thirds of riders say they are satisfied with their Metro Transit experience; she noted significant increases in the share of riders reporting they feel safe on board trains and at train stations (up about 8 points versus 2024 and roughly 15 points versus 2023) and a decline in riders reporting they see drug use (down to about 24% from roughly 50% in 2023).
Metro Transit Police Chief Joe Atith (as identified during the meeting) reported staffing gains—121 sworn officers at the time of the presentation with more classes entering service—and said officer‑initiated calls, onboard presence and community service officer (CSO) activity have increased substantially. He emphasized that the majority of recorded incidents are quality‑of‑life offenses (smoking, trespass, conduct) while the FBI 'top seven' serious crimes are down roughly 5.4% year over year. The chief urged operators and riders to call dispatch (TCC) to log incidents so video and other evidence can be used for identification and prosecution when appropriate.
Staff outlined next steps including targeted beats (Brooklyn Center and planned north/south beats), accreditation work, an assault‑reduction project for transit employees, and continued coordination with county and city partners on homelessness outreach, with summer outreach activities and bus onboard teams scheduled to begin in June.
Why it matters: Perception of safety influences ridership and service use; the update ties quantitative survey results to operational steps (staffing, community outreach and enforcement) and shows staff activity to reduce quality‑of‑life incidents and respond to serious crimes.
What’s next: Staff will continue SSAP implementation, deploy additional CSOs and police beats, begin bus onboard teams in June and report metrics in future quarterly updates.
