Bill Scott, the former Chief of the San Francisco Police Department, has been appointed as the head of Los Angeles Metro’s new in-house police department. Scott, who spent 27 years with the LAPD and served as Deputy Chief at South Bureau, announced his retirement from his San Francisco role on Wednesday. He will assume his new position on June 23.
The creation of Metro’s own police department comes after a surge in crime and attacks against bus drivers, leading the Metro board to vote for an in-house department last year. Previously, Metro relied on multiple law enforcement agencies to patrol its transit system. Metro Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins emphasized the need for a new approach, stating, “Everyone deserves a safe Metro, and we needed to do something different to ensure safety on our system.”
Scott’s experience in community policing and crisis response will be crucial as he builds the department from the ground up. His responsibilities will include overseeing training, staff selection, and security coordination for major events like the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. Metro plans to have the department fully operational by 2029, with a staff of nearly 1,100, including police officers and Metro ambassadors.
The appointment of Scott is seen as a significant step towards reimagining public safety on Metro’s trains and buses. Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn praised Scott’s vision and integrity, stating, “He understands that real public safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about trust, transparency and working with the community to make every rider feel safe.”
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