There’s a new person in charge of safety on Metro Transit buses and trains.
Ernest Morales III comes from New York, where he spent most of his career in the New York City Police Department.
His experience includes crisis management, investigations and administration.
Morales comes to the position as Metro Transit continues to build back ridership following the pandemic and address ongoing crime issues, particularly on its light rail trains.
Last week, the Met Council Committee, which oversees Metro Transit, shared that calls for service are up 15% compared to 2021 and 25% compared to 2020.
Among the specifics, they note that calls for narcotics were up 182% and weapons were up 145% from 2021 to 2022.
“We are seeing more firearms, and we are seeing ghost guns on the system–things that you’ve been hearing about on the national news and all that–they’re quite concerning,” said interim Metro Transit Chief Rick Grates.
Morales begins his new job February 27.
