The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has reported a strong response to the launch of recruitment efforts for its new Department of Public Safety (DPS), receiving 950 applications within the first 24 hours.

LA Metro recently began recruiting qualified law enforcement officers who will serve as the department’s first sworn personnel. According to the agency, these officers will help establish the department’s culture, policies, and community-focused approach as the agency builds its in-house public safety force.

To support hiring efforts, LA Metro launched a dedicated recruitment website, JoinMetroDPS.com, that provides information about the department’s mission, hiring process, training model, qualifications, compensation, and benefits.

“We are excited to mark this important milestone as we begin this critical next phase of building out LA Metro’s own Department of Public Safety,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “As we recruit and develop the first generation of LA Metro officers, we will shape a department that reflects our values, earns public trust, and delivers the safe, welcoming experience our riders and employees deserve.”

DPS Anchored by Community-Focused Strategy

The agency said the DPS will operate within the agency’s broader care-based public safety model, which combines law enforcement with ambassadors, homeless outreach teams, crisis intervention teams, and community-based services. The approach is designed to match incidents with the most appropriate responder while allowing officers to focus on criminal activity and urgent safety concerns.

The agency also highlighted recent safety improvements across its transit network. Violent crime declined for the second consecutive year in 2025, reaching its lowest level since 2021, while customer satisfaction with safety measures reached record highs. In March 2026, overall crime was down 13.6% compared with March 2025.

In addition to standard law enforcement instruction, LA Metro officers will receive specialized transit-focused training in areas including de-escalation, trauma-informed response, customer service, and transit-specific awareness issues.

LA Metro’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of the in-house public safety department in June 2024. The agency plans to fully deploy its specially trained officers by the end of 2029, working alongside ambassadors, homeless outreach teams, and crisis response personnel under a zone-based deployment model.