LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority establishing public safety advisory committee; will explore community-based policing options
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is establishing a Transit Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) to re-envision transit safety and explore community-based approaches to policing.
To establish the PSAC, Metro is launching an external recruitment for members of the committee with applications accepted through November 13, 2020. Applications are encouraged from riders, transit advocates and community-based organizations.
“It is prudent for Metro to begin reevaluating its safety strategies to ensure it is meeting the needs and expectation of our riders,” stated Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “We look forward to working with the community and our riders to re-envision our approaches to transit policing.”
In selecting members for the PSAC, Metro wants to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives, including racial, cultural, gender, sexual orientation, income, geography, immigration status, housing status and persons with disabilities.
Metro is seeking to establish a 15-members committee with three alternates.
Following protests across the United States earlier this year against police brutality, the Metro Board of Directors sought recommendations from Metro’s System Security and Law Enforcement Department on ways to reform the agency’s policing practices as well as reallocating resources from policing to homeless engagement and outreach and other forms of community safety.
Metro is now in the process of reevaluating its safety strategies to ensure it is meeting the needs and expectations of transit riders. This is taking place as the agency considers the renewal of its multiagency law enforcement police contract in 2022. The establishment of the PSAC will give Metro the opportunity to consult with key law enforcement experts and community members as Metro works toward ensuring a more accountable culture of policing.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
