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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced that its recruitment of law enforcement officers is off to a strong start with 950 applications received in the first 24 hours. The agency has entered the next phase of building its department of public safety and began recruiting for qualified law enforcement officers to serve among the department’s first sworn personnel. This foundational group of officers will play a critical role in shaping the department’s culture, policies, and community-focused approach from the ground up.
To support the recruitment effort, last week Metro launched a dedicated website, JoinMetroDPS.com, where prospective candidates can learn more about the department’s mission, hiring process, training model, and community-centered policing philosophy. The site includes application materials, minimum qualifications and details about the competitive pay and robust benefit package being offered.
“Metro’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety, build trust, and create a welcoming environment for all riders is evidenced by this important milestone,” said Fernado Dutra, Metro Board Chair.
“We are excited to mark this important milestone as we begin this critical next phase of building out Metro’s own Department of Public Safety. said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We have built a strong foundation that reflects our deep commitment to accountability, training, and community-centered policing to lead our training program. Metro is leading the nation in creating a new approach to public safety for transit as it builds its Department of Public Safety (DPS) from the ground up.”
The DPS is led by seasoned law enforcement professionals with experience at the local and federal levels and operates as part of Metro’s broader care-based public safety approach. Unlike traditional models that rely primarily on law enforcement, Metro integrates ambassadors, homeless outreach teams, crisis and community intervention teams to assist customers and respond to quality-of-life issues. By matching each situation with the most appropriate responder, Metro is creating a more holistic public safety model that promotes safety, dignity, and support for riders while enabling law enforcement officers to focus on criminal activity and urgent safety concerns.
As a result, Metro has made significant progress in improving safety across its bus and rail system. Violent crime declined for the second consecutive year in 2025, reaching its lowest level since 2021, while customer satisfaction with safety measures reached record highs. The trend continued in March 2026, the most recent month for which crime data is available, with a 13.6% decrease in overall crime compared to March 2025.
In addition to their law enforcement training, all officers will receive specialized training tailored to the transit environment, including awareness issues that are unique to transit, trauma-informed response, de-escalation, and customer service.
“This is a rare opportunity in law enforcement,” said Metro Chief of Police and Emergency Management William Scott. “Joining this department means more than taking a job, it means helping to build a culture that protects the community from day one. We are looking for individuals who are committed to service, who value relationships, and who want a voice in creating the kind of department they’ve always wanted to join.”
On June 28, 2024, the Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved the establishment of an in-house public safety department to ensure increased visibility, accountability, and consistent service delivery. By the end of 2029, Metro’s Department of Public Safety will complete the deployment of its own hired and specially trained law enforcement officers in the field, alongside ambassadors, homeless outreach, and crisis response teams utilizing a zone-based deployment model. Each zone will have at least one crisis co-response team assigned to respond to calls and do proactive engagement on board trains, buses, and at Metro transit stations.
