The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency (LA Metro) announced Wednesday that former San Francisco Police Chief William “Bill” Scott will become the first head of internal police.
As a leader in the Transit Community Public Safety Sector (TCPSD), Scott previously served the Los Angeles Police Department for nearly 30 years, but will be tasked with increasing safety across the transport system, which is plagued by violent incidents, including sexual assaults of women on Metrobus last month.
While leading the San Francisco Police Department, Scott was praised for helping reduce crime and introducing advanced technology to help officials monitor and respond to activities.
Scott said at a press conference Wednesday that he could be the first to lead La Metro’s in-house police force, hours after announcing his retirement from the San Francisco Police Department, he spoke to him.
“I believe this is the right role at the right time for the right reasons,” Scott said. “This department isn’t just about dealing with incidents, it’s about preventing them. It’s about ensuring that our riders feel safe and supported.”
Metro officials hoped that Scott’s experience, leading one of the biggest police stations, would help prepare for famous events such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said he believes Scott is the right person to build the division from scratch and “jump on day one,” adding that the San Francisco Municipal Railway saw a decline in crime and that fare avoidance fell 30% under leadership.
“We were looking for people who understood law enforcement, care-based strategies, transportation, and systems that could understand strong emotional intelligence,” Wiggins said.
In particular, Mayor Karen Bus announced last year that the 2028 Olympics will become a “no-car game”, with public transport being the only way public transport can access the venue, and public safety of metro buses and trains will be further highlighted in the coming months.
Scott said he may be heavily involved with the community and safety ambassadors to consider using the same strategy from San Francisco.
“Sometimes enforcement is the answer, sometimes not,” he said. “I think both effective police departments or public safety departments need to balance out. It has to be about all people.”
Scott also said he would consider a variety of technologies to enhance public safety within the metro system, as he did in San Francisco.
“There are a lot of new emerging technologies used in law enforcement agencies across the country,” he said. “I think Metro is probably leading the way, and being a part of it will be exciting.”
The LA Metro board voted unanimously last June to establish its own police amid the rise in violent crime reported across the transport system.
According to a job ad previously posted by Metro, the new Chief Safety Officer is expected to be paid between $222,000 and $335,000.
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