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Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC)

Overview

Metro is committed to safeguarding the transit community by taking a holistic, equitable and welcoming approach to public safety, recognizing that each individual is entitled to a safe, dignified and human experience. The Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) has been established to support Metro in achieving this mission.

About

Metro established the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) to help reimagine public safety across the transit system. PSAC includes a diverse group of riders and professionals with experience in racial justice, mental health, accessibility, housing, law enforcement and social services. Members reflect key community perspectives, including youth, older adults and women.

PSAC includes 15 voting community members, three alternates and three ex-officio Metro staff members. The committee meets monthly on the first Thursday at 6pm to review safety strategies and raise community concerns.

Committee Membership

Members

Shantal Anderson, Edward Cervantes, Dorit Dowler-Guerrero, Edward Duong, Jean Hooper, Jack Inman, Angela La Riva, Jeremy Oliver-Ronceros, Estar (Hyeonjin) Park, Troy Pierce, Skye Price, Leslie Ridings, David Sanchez, Candis Welch, Misty Wilks

Member Alternates

Vacant, Vacant, Vacant

Ex-officio Employee Members

Stephanie Bunker, Daniel De La Cruz, Michael Sweeney

Status

To address growing national concerns related to racial equity, social justice, and police reforms, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors (Board) established a Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) in June 2020 (Motion 37, June 18, 2020). The objective, as outlined in the Board motion, was to establish the PSAC as a community-based perspective that Metro could consult with when developing a new scope of services, budget, and other provisions of the anticipated multi-agency police contract renewal effort. A selection of fifteen community members, three community alternates, and three employees serving as ex officio members were finalized in February 2021.

After the police contract was renewed, PSAC continued to focus on public safety alternatives to law enforcement and, in partnership, develop a community-based approach to public safety on the transit system. The following is a recap of PSAC’s accomplishments and recommendations to date across each annual cohort and by topic.

Cohort 1 (April 2021-August 2022)

- In April 2021, Metro convened the first Cohort 1 PSAC meeting, led by the Systems, Security, and Law Enforcement (SSLE) team.

On June 2, 2021, the first PSAC Charter and Bylaws were voted on and approved. The Committee went to work quickly, forming five Ad Hoc Committees: Police Practices; Non-Law Enforcement Alternatives; Community Engagement; Infrastructure Protection Services; and Public Safety Survey.

- In November 2021, the Committee voted to approve the final draft of the PSAC Mission & Values Statements.
- The Committee voted to approve the Non-Law Enforcement Alternatives Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations on the forthcoming Transit Ambassadors Program.
- Cohort 1 also visited homeless shelters and conducted numerous meetings in an effort to continuously address and improve safety on the system.

Cohort 2 (February 2023-December 2023)

Members of both PSAC cohorts 1 and 2 participated in a virtual focus group and interactive discussions with SSLE to provide feedback on two policies: the Bias Free Policing and Public Safety Analytics policies.
In March 2023, the Metro Board approved both policies, with PSAC recommendations included.
With the launch of the Metro Ambassadors in October 2022, and as Metro changed its contract security, PSAC engaged by tabling at community events and hosting its first listening session at Union Station on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, to garner input from the public on overall safety issues on the system.
In November 2023, PSAC established three Ad Hoc Committees to draft recommendations for the development of the Metro Transit Community Public Safety Department (TCPSD) – 1) Personnel, 2) Job Duties, 3) Oversight.
In February 2024, the Committee finalized 22 recommendations from the three Ad Hoc Committees to advance to the CEO and Board for review. Many of those recommendations were incorporated into the Transit Community Public Safety Department (TCPSD) Implementation Plan, which was endorsed by PSAC in June 2024.
The Board officially approved the Implementation Plan on June 27, 2024.
Following a series of incidents on the system, Cohort 2 also established Ad Hoc Committees to address Equitable Fare Enforcement in May 2024.
Two committees drafted seven recommendations each. Finalization of those recommendations and advancement is pending.
From June through October 2024, PSAC also engaged by tabling at community events and hosting multiple listening sessions at Union Station on Thursday, September 25, virtually on Wednesday, October 6, and in Long Beach on Saturday, October 26, 2024, to garner input from the public on the desired characteristics for the soon-to-be-hired Chief of Police and Emergency Management of the TCPSD, as well as general safety issues on the system.

Cohort 3 (February 2025-present)

In May 2024, members were provided a full tour of the Emergency and Security Operations Center (ESOC) and the Executive Committee participated in the press conference announcing the new TCPSD Chief of Police and Emergency Management. Committee members volunteered for the Metro On the Move Riders Program – Older Adults Transportation Expo to listen to senior riders’ safety concerns – a first for PSAC.
In June 2025, PSAC committee members participated in the grand opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station.
In July and August 2025 – PSAC members, in collaboration with Operations and SSLE, conducted qualitative surveys with riders regarding the Throne and Station Enhancements, as well as the Weapons Detection System pilot. PSAC committee members also attended Metro’s State of the Agency.
Upcoming engagement for Cohort 3 includes several summer outreach events (June through October) and listening sessions planned for fall 2025.