Metro's Board of Directors will meet on Thursday to discuss a motion that would increase police presence on the Metro system amid recent violent attacks.
It comes a week after Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board of Directors Chair Karen Bass ordered a “surge” of police presence across the Metro train system. The motion also calls for a “unified command” of law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, Metro security, and the Long Beach Police Department.
Bass said she also wants cellular service working in “all underground Metro rail systems” so riders can call for help immediately.
The most recent attack happened on Tuesday when a man was stabbed on a Metro bus in Lynwood. The week before that, a man in Encino was assaulted and robbed while onboard a Metro bus. The night before, a woman and boy were stabbed in separate incidents on the Metro system.
Last month, a 66-year-old woman was fatally stabbed at the Universal City/Studio City station.
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is the vice chair of the Metro Board, said during the May 16 press conference that law enforcement needs to be on the bus and trains.
“It does not do our riders any good if officers remain in their squad cars,” she said. “The violence against our riders in recent days and we demand an urgent response.”
Last week, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who serves on the Metro Board, told L.A.’s Morning News she felt that the wrong approach was taken to address safety on the Metro.
“When I talk to ambassadors, they tell me that law enforcement is an important partner with them in order for them to do their job,” she said.
“ We need to undo what was done and that is basically changing the policies as it relates to law enforcement's role on our transit system and let them get back to being a deterrent and then capturing those that are committing the crimes.”
On April 29, Metro’s Board of Directors approved an emergency procurement declaration to put protective barriers on 2,000 buses to protect drivers, according to City News Service.
City News Service contributed to this article.
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