STATEMENT BY METRO CEO ART LEAHY
Re: Excessive force by Metro Security Officers
As the new Metro CEO, I have made it clear to the managers in charge of Metro security officers as well as the Sheriff’s commander who oversees transit security on Metro buses and trains that I will not tolerate excessive force by any officer. It doesn’t matter what uniform they are wearing; it’s transparent to the public. Moreover, I will not allow any inappropriate behavior by a Metro employee, whether or not it is prosecuted as a criminal offense.
These aren’t just words. We have dismissed a security officer who was convicted last month of misdemeanors for using excessive force with an intoxicated patron at a rail station. Another security officer who received several citizen complaints but who was never prosecuted, nonetheless, has been pulled from patrol duty.
It should be noted that the public has relatively little contact with Metro security officers, who concentrate on guarding Metro facilities but they do close Metro Rail stations late at night. Metro contracts with the Sheriff’s department to provide security on Metro buses and trains.
I have told my managers and the Sheriff’s transit security commander that I want to be informed of every incident involving allegations of excessive force by any officer, and each incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken.
Moreover, I am contacting the Los Angeles Office of Independent Review, a civilian oversight group that monitors the Sheriff’s Department, to look into our security arrangements and advise if improvements are warranted. In addition, in the new transit security contract being negotiated with LASD, Metro has agreed to have the various shifts of Metro Security to be under the command and control of the LASD watch commander. That should provide better communications, integration and oversight.
Let me assure the public that they are safe on the Metro system. Yes, we are aware of about a dozen complaints of excessive force leveled against Metro security officers in the past two years. Each is being investigated and will be dealt with. Inappropriate behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Period. For context, note that a third of the complaints are against the two officers who have been disciplined. Metro has carried nearly 1 billion boarding passengers during the past two years, and there are approximately 550 law enforcement personnel (Sheriff’s and Metro security officers) protecting the public’s safety and transit facilities.
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