CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Although there’s been a slight drop in violent crimes on Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains from 2021, the transit agency still saw violent crime at a rate that more than doubled pre-pandemic levels over the course of 2022.
Police have also made fewer arrests in 2022 than in 2021, according to an analysis conducted by the Tribune.
There were 591 violent crimes on CTA trains in the first eleven months of the year, compared to 489 last year, the report found. Factor in increased ridership for this year, though, and the rate of violent crime drops from 2021 to 2022.
Chicago Police Department Public Transit Section Commander Joe Bird recently acknowledged some people don’t feel safe riding trains.
“Perceptions, we’ve got to deal with that, as well, 100%, and that’s why we’re here,” Bird said. “That’s why I’m asking — even the people riding the system — if you see an officer, engage the officer. I ask the officers: Always engage the citizens.”
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Non-violent crimes, such as pick-pocketing, are up slightly, according to the report.
CTA Chief of Security Kevin Ryan recently told us that adding more security has helped.
“We are looking at new things and new ways to do things, and to get information out to law enforcement in real time or close to real time,” Ryan said. Let’s be honest, 38,000 cameras, somebody can’t watch 38,000 cameras.”
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