Chicago Transit Authority commits to investing $10 million to add police officers to patrol rail and bus stations
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, joined by Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Forrest Claypool announced that the CTA will invest $10 million to hire 50 full-time police officers to patrol rail and bus stations across the city.
“Each day, the CTA provides convenient, accessible transportation to more than a million riders across Chicago’s neighborhoods,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This investment in full-time officers to patrol CTA’s rail and bus stations will help ensure the safety and security of all who rely on the CTA to get to work, school, and to destinations across our great city.”
The 50 full-time police officers will come from the Chicago Police Academy. Today’s announcement marks the first round of new recruits to start the Police Academy since Mayor Emanuel took office in May 2011. Recruits are scheduled to begin the Academy in the fall of this year. They will go through six-months of intensive training, with officers expected to be detailed to the Public Transportation Section by spring 2012.
“Adding these fifty full-time officers will increase our visibility and our ability to deter crime where millions of Chicagoans spend their time every day,” said Superintendent McCarthy. “We will continue to work with the CTA to ensure that people don’t need to worry about their safety while riding the train or taking the bus.”
“The CTA is proud to announce this long-term investment in the safety of our riders,” added President Claypool. “By enhancing the full-time, dedicated police presence on our transit lines, we are increasing our ability to provide riders with the most secure and convenient transit service possible.”
The CTA works closely with the Chicago Police Department Public Transportation Section to identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals who commit crimes on CTA property. Currently, officers from the unit include both uniformed and plainclothes police who ride the trains and buses and patrol stations.
Today’s announcement forms part of the Mayor’s ongoing commitment to bring more police officers to every neighborhood of Chicago. To date, Mayor Emanuel and Superintendent McCarthy have announced the deployment of nearly 750 additional police officers to patrol the streets and ensure the safety of Chicago residents.
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