Santa Monica, CA - June 5, 2024: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies conducted an end-of-day sweep of the Metro train system following the last ride of the evening. As the final train arrived, deputies boarded to inform passengers it was the end of the line and the train was now closed. Many riders were sleeping, requiring deputies to wake them and have them exit. The trains then returned to the service station for routine maintenance and cleaning, with service resuming at 4 a.m. the following morning. The Sheriff's Deputies maintained professionalism, kindness, and courtesy while ensuring firmness and efficiency in clearing the trains.
E Line service hours are from approximately 4:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. daily. Trains operate every 8 minutes during peak hours, Monday to Friday. During midday on weekdays and weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., trains run every 10 minutes. Night and early morning service is approximately every 20 minutes daily.
Earlier in the day, at the downtown Santa Monica Station, Metro Ambassadors, the Metro Outreach Team, and The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Mental Evaluation Team (LASD MET) offered outreach and assistance to riders.
Metro Ambassadors support riders on Metro buses, trains, and stations, connect them to resources, and report maintenance and safety concerns. They are part of a multilayer plan to improve public safety, including security and law enforcement, homeless and mental health outreach workers, and cleaning crews.
Metro Homeless Outreach Teams engage with unhoused riders on buses, trains, and stations, connecting them to resources. These teams are also part of the multilayer safety improvement plan.
The LASD MET provides crisis assessment, intervention, and targeted case management to defuse potentially violent situations. They assist in placing individuals with mental illness in psychiatric facilities or linking them to outpatient services. Each team includes a deputy sheriff and a licensed mental health clinician authorized to initiate involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. This co-response model aims to reduce use-of-force incidents, hospitalizations, and unnecessary incarcerations of mentally ill individuals. LASD MET also provides training for de-escalation, crisis negotiations, and reducing incarcerations.
The downtown Santa Monica Station serves as the terminal stop for the Metro line, making it crucial for authorities to ensure all passengers exit the train upon reaching its final destination. This measure addresses reports of some unhoused individuals using the train as a makeshift shelter, remaining on board for extended periods and even sleeping onboard.
Sheriff's Deputies and Metro Security at the downtown Santa Monica Station combine security duties with passenger welfare checks. Their responsibilities include monitoring trains and platforms, enforcing the code of conduct, tackling fare evasion, and upholding the rule of law to ensure safety and security for all passengers.
The increased law enforcement presence at the station is part of a broader effort to address concerns related to criminal activity, instill a sense of safety among commuters, and ultimately restore confidence in the Metro system. This proactive approach is designed to deter criminal behavior and encourage ridership without fear.
Authorities urge passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or unsafe situations promptly. In emergencies, passengers should dial 9-1-1. For non-emergency security concerns, passengers can reach security personnel at 888.950.7233. Additionally, passengers can use the train intercom or station intercoms, marked by red signs on station platforms, to alert Metro staff to any incidents.
The heightened security measures underscore the commitment of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies to ensure a safe and secure travel experience for all Metro passengers, with a renewed focus on the downtown Santa Monica Station as a key point in the transit system.
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Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning Santa Monica-based professional photojournalist and press photographer, and the creator of the photo blog, Santa Monica Close Up. With years of experience as a staff photographer for several media outlets including the Santa Monica Daily Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica Observer, and the Santa Monica Corsair, Fabian has captured some of the most iconic moments of Santa Monica.
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